Vince Lombardi became the fifth head coach on February 2, and the Packer franchise was changed forever. The former Giants' assistant coach immediately changed the face of the team. In April, he

traded WR Billy Howton, the top Packer receiver of the decade, to Cleveland for HB Lew Carpenter and DE Bill Quinlan. In May, he acquired QB Lamar McHan from the Cardinals. After Bobby Dillon

retired, Lombardi picked up DB Emlen Tunnell from the Giants. He also acquired OG Fuzzy Thurston from the Colts and DT Henry Jordan from the Browns. Lombardi also released Howie Ferguson,

Babe Parilli and Al Camichael, as 16 veterans from the 1958 team were sent elsewhere or released. In posting their first winning record in twelve years, Green Bay opened the season 3-0, lost five

straight, then won their last four games. A change at quarterback from McHan to Bart Starr in Week Five re-energized the Green Bay offense, as Starr established himself as the team leader for the

next decade. For the first time in years, Packer fans looked forward to the off-season, and the upcoming campaign.

A FATEFUL CHOICE FOR A FORMER TOP PICK

A half century ago, Randy Duncan was the best quarterback in college football and the most sought-after player in the National Football League draft. Duncan had led the Iowa Hawkeyes to the Big

Ten title and two consecutive Rose Bowl victories in 1957 and in '58. His senior year, he was a consensus All-American, the Walter Camp Award winner and the Big Ten's most valuable player. The

athletic, strong-armed quarterback led the nation in passing and total offense and ended second to Army's Pete Dawkins for the 1958 Heisman Trophy. "I was used to winning," said Duncan, who

also excelled in the classroom and aspired to attend law school. So Duncan, who was 6 feet tall and 180 pounds, was less than thrilled when informed that the Green Bay Packers - the worst team in

pro football - had chosen him with the No. 1 selection in the 1959 NFL draft. From 1956-'59, the draft consisted of 30 rounds and was held in two separate sessions, two months apart, at the Warwick

Hotel in Philadelphia. The first four rounds of the 1959 draft were held on December 2, 1958 - as the Packers were in the midst of a seven-game losing streak in an atrocious 1-10-1 season. The

remaining 26 rounds of the draft were conducted on Jan. 21, 1959. Duncan had hoped to play for the Los Angeles Rams, who had the No. 2 selection in the draft, in a metropolitan area that offered

several options for law school. He received the news of his No. 1 selection via telephone from Jack Vainisi, Green Bay's personnel director, as he waited to catch a flight in Chicago back to Iowa.

Duncan was returning from a television appearance in New York featuring the collegiate All-American team. "You have to remember, the Packers had only won one game in 1958," Duncan said. "It

wasn't a real popular situation at the time. Nobody could have seen what Lombardi would do. Being the No. 1 draft choice in the league wasn't what it was now. So basically it came down to

money. I got more to play in Canada." Jerry Kramer, a guard in his second season, said most Green Bay players did not pay much attention to the draft or rookies. "Pro football and the draft just

weren't the big deal they are today," Kramer said. "We didn't get excited about the new guys coming in until they put on a helmet in training camp and you could see if they could play or not. I really

don't remember much about drafting Randy Duncan because I was in my second year and worried about my spot." Duncan spurned the Packers offer and signed a two-year, $35,000 deal with

the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League. His signing bonus was $2,000. "It's hard to believe with what No. 1 draft choices receive now," Duncan said Monday from his law

office in Des Moines, Iowa. "But that was a lot of money back in 1959. It was a couple thousand more than Green Bay offered. And I was going to law school." It was a major blow to the reeling

Green Bay franchise, whose finances mirrored its on-field performance. The NFL's smallest-market team was not held in high regard by NFL brass and many team owners. "The Packers were

not doing well financially at the time," said Lee Remmel, former team public relations director and team historian. "Randy Duncan was very successful at Iowa, but he went to Canada and never

played a down in Green Bay." But the Packers had a bigger void to fill. The organization was focused on finding a head coach to replace Ray "Scooter" McLean, who resigned under pressure in

December after the worst season in team history. "The Packers underwhelmed 10 opponents, overwhelmed one, and whelmed one," said legendary sportswriter Red Smith. Duncan's coach at

Iowa, Forest Evashevski, was the leading candidate for the vacant Green Bay position. Evashevski opted to stay at Iowa after a secret trip to Green Bay to meet with executive committee members.

The Packers then pursued Vince Lombardi, an assistant coach with the New York Giants. The rest is history. Lombardi became the fifth head coach in Green Bay annals and created a dynasty,

winning five NFL championships in seven years in the 1960s. But what would have happened if Evashevski would have taken the Packer post? "If he would have gone to Green Bay, I'm sure I

would have gone too," Duncan said. "But it didn't work out that way." Duncan played two seasons in British Columbia, throwing for 3,480 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 38 interceptions. In the

offseason, he attended law school at Drake University in Des Moines. After his unimpressive CFL experience, he signed with the Dallas Texans of the American Football League in 1961 and

continued his education at Southern Methodist University. Head coach Hank Stram traded for Len Dawson, relegating Duncan to a backup role. He appeared in nine games, throwing just one

touchdown pass. Duncan's professional football career was over, but his business career was just beginning. "I didn't want to be on the bench," he said, "So I decided to go into law." Duncan

completed his studies at Drake and followed in his father's footsteps, operating a successful law practice in Des Moines for more than 45 years. He and his wife, Paula, have been married for nearly 50 years. They raised three boys, two of whom played at Yale and Iowa. Duncan, who was inducted into the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame in 1976 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997, closely follows Iowa Hawkeye football and the NFL. "I like the Packers and the Vikings - can you believe it?" Duncan asked with a laugh. He has attended a few games at Lambeau Field over the years, the last time for a Monday night contest against Tennessee in 2004. "I went up with some friends to a game at the renovated stadium. It's a great facility," he said. "We toured the Packers Hall of Fame and had a good time." Duncan said he has no regrets about his decision five decades ago to bypass playing for the Packers. "I'm 72 and golf, play tennis and even play a little handball - I don't have to work that hard anymore," Duncan said. "I have no regrets over the past and no fear of the future." SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 5 May 2009

A letter from Vince Lombardi to season ticket holders for the Green Bay Packers season. The schedule and ticket prices are also part of the body of the letter. (Photo Credit - Wisconsin Historical Society)

JANUARY 8 (New York) - Safetyman Bobby Dillon of the Green Bay Packers was named Thursday to the NFL All-Star team selected by sports writers for the Associated Press. The champion Baltimore Colts and runnerup New York Giants gained 11 of the 22 positions. Dillon was named for the second straight year. Jim Ringo of Green Bay, who made last year's first team at center, was on the second team.

PACKER CHIEF BACK, NO NEWS ON COACH

JANUARY 9 (Green Bay) - Dominic Olejniczak, president of the Green Bay Packers, returned here Friday from the NCAA meeting in Cincinnati. He said that he had nothing to announce at this time concerning efforts to hire a general manager, a coach or both. "We haven't even scratched the surface as far as getting anything together," Olejniczak said. "It was an interesting meeting, but there is nothing definite now. When I get my desk cleared of personal business and get all my notes and information together, we may make some announcements." The Packers, in a reorganizational move, plan to hire a new general manager with broad powers. Last season's coach, Ray (Scooter) McLean, has already resigned and gone to the Detroit Lions as an assistant. Verne Lewellen, the general manager, hopes to stay with the team as business manager.

PACKERS ARE HOPEFUL, OLEJNICZAK ANNOUNCES

JANUARY 10 (Green Bay) - Dominic Olejniczak, president of the Green Bay Packers, announced here Saturday that he had nothing definite to announced at this time in regard to the club's search for a general manager with broad powers. "We are now hopeful," he said, "of a decision in the near future. No definite understanding has been reached with any individual. The time has come for a careful study of all applications and of those who have been sought out. At present we are not selecting a coach. However, as originally stated, it is possible that certain individuals could serve in a dual capacity. Overall, the picture is encouraging because of the varying degrees of interest show in the challenge which the new position offers."

PACKERS TO ACT THIS WEEK, REPORT

JANUARY 11 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers will probably name a new general manager-coach this week, a usually reliable source told the Associated Press Saturday. The source said the professional football club's Board of Directors would act before the NFL draft of college players resumes in Philadelphia January 21. "In all likelihood," the source said, "the new man will serve in the dual capacity of general manager and head coach."

FORMER PLAYER RAPS PACKER CLUB PLANS - SHOULD CUT GROUP FIRST

JANUARY 12 (Fond du Lac) - A former Packer lineman, Charlie Brock, severely criticized current plans to streamline the Green Bay club's front office and charged here Sunday that "the executive committee has interfered with the coaching staff for years." Brock, speaking at a father-son Holy Name program at St. Mary's, said, "They come out in the papers and say they're going to change the system. They're going to keep a 13 man executive committee, hire a new general manager and coach, hold a stockholders' meeting, then cut the committee down to six. They should hold the meeting first, cut the committee to six, name a president - and then go about the business of selecting a general manager or coach. Everytime something happens they've got to fire the coach. The executive committee has interfered with the coaching staff for years." The former Packer center also stated that the Packer club "has not been honest with the team's fans, who are the people of Wisconsin." He added that everyone would benefit if the entire executive committee resigned so the club could reorganize "from scratch." Brock also indicated that the Packer Alumni Association, composed of former players, might take action at its next meeting February 2. "We've kept our nose out of this but now we feel we should do something about it," he commented. "We can't see why Green Bay should not have good football teams as in the past. Maybe it's the material. Maybe it's the coaching. We have our own ideas." The method of drafting players for the Packers also came in for criticism. Brock said that the club had placed too much emphasis on getting All-American players whose achievements already "have gone to their heads." He emphasized that more stress should be placed on scanning small colleges for talent. "I've never believed in All-American stars," he said. "I've played with a lot of them who couldn't stay in camp two weeks. The kids coming out of college today think they are better than the rest of the people and they look down on them. That's where part of the trouble is. There's no spirit among the players, generally speaking." Brock said that he played for $2,200 a year when he was with the Packers and contrasted that salary with the $15,000 and $20,000 now offered highly publicized players. "Those players should be living football every minute of every day in the year," he said. "When we lost a game we didn't dare walk the streets of Green Bay until the next Sunday when we won. Then we'd show our faces and everybody greeted us. Today the Packers can lose by 40 points and players walk the streets with no one saying a word to them. Green Bay seems to have lost its spirit." Packer officials must learn to be truthful and honest with their fans, Brock said. "If they make a mistake, they should admit it immediately instead of trying to find a scapegoat. They never once asked anyone of any football knowledge or experience as to what to look for and what should be done to improve the team. That's a big mistake," Brock said.

LEGION, LARGE STOCKHOLDER, ASKED NEW PACKER OFFICERS

JANUARY 14 (Green Bay) - The American Legion Sullivan-Walden Post No. 11, a substantial stockholder in the Green Bay Packer Corp., Tuesday asked for the resignation of Packer President Dominic Olejniczak and all other present officers of the football corporation. John N. Patton, post commander, said that the members went on record at their meeting Tuesday night in favor of a complete reorganization of the corporation. Patton said that Legion members felt that "some well known and public spirited individuals, such as Dr. R.L. Cowles, replace the present president." Dr. Cowles was elected to the Board of Directors last year. Patton said the present committee had not demonstrated that it was capable of gaining and retaining the confidence of the community in the operation of the club. He said the post felt that all stockholders, large and small, should protect their interest by voting their stock at the coming stockholders meeting, which will be held around March 1. Fifteen of the 45 members of the Board of Directors will be chosen at the meeting and the directors will then elect the executive committee. The Sullivan-Wallen post holds more than 100 shares of Packers stock and under the articles of incorporation would inherit all club assets in case the Packers folded.

CRITICS OF PACKERS SUPPORT LEGION

JANUARY 15 (Green Lake) - A drive seeking the resignation of all Green Bay Packer officials has drawn the support of two local businessmen who were among the first to organize criticism of the management of the NFL club. Harry Norton and Henry Eaton said Wednesday that they were 100% behind the move initiated by the Sullivan-Walden American Legion Post No. 11 at Green Bay. The post owns substantial Packer stock. At a meeting Tuesday night, the post asked the resignations of Packer President Dominic Olejniczak and all other officers. The legion also asked for a complete reorganizational of the club. Norton also said he and Eaton felt Olejniczak's resignation would be in the best interest of the Packers and the fans. Norton and Eaton have supported the return to the Packers of Curly Lambeau as general manager and coach. Petitions seeking Lambeau's return were supported by the two businessmen who said 2,840 of the documents, with a minimum of 27 signatures each, were presented to the Packers about 10 days ago. Norton said the petitions were not acknowledged.

PACKER PROFITS UP; NO COACH

JANUARY 20 (Milwaukee Sentinel) - The Packers, preparing for the NFL player draft in Philadelphia Wednesday, still find themselves without a head coach but in solid financial shape. President Dominic Olejniczak Monday said "there is absolutely no chance we'll have a coach in time for the league meeting." "We've tried," Olejniczak said. "It is something out of our control but certainly not a catastrophe by any means." Meanwhile, it was learned that the club showed a profit of $72,612 (before taxes) for the 1958 season. The auditor's report revealed, as of December 31, 1958, the team had a total capital of $327,000. The Packers have been a money-maker since Verne Lewellen took over as general manager in 1954. During Lewellen's five-year reign the club has shown a profit of $351,000 before taxes. In the previous five years (1949-53), the club suffered a loss of $105,600. Although the Packers are seeking a combination coach-general manager, Lewellen apparently will stay on as business manager. The rosy financial picture has been accomplished even though player salaries have increased 43.4% during the past five years. Attendance at home and away has been mounting every year. The club also gets a boost from CBS television ($75,000 a season) for rights to its league games. Regarding the Philadelphia meeting, Olejniczak said Chief Scout Jack Vainisi will be in charge of the Packers' draft. He will be assisted by Lewellen and Boob Darling, a member of the executive committee. Olejniczak will attend the NFL's annual winter meeting, but will not participate in the draft. The last place Packers, who experienced their worst season in 40 years, will get the 26-round draft underway. They will receive two extra choices: the Giants' seventh pick in payment for guard Al Barry and the Browns' eight for punter Dick Deschaine. Green Bay loses its fifth pick - the first of Wednesday's draft - to Washington as part of the deal for defensive tackle J.D. Kimmel, but gains back a selection in the same round from Pittsburgh for halfback Dick Christy.

EVASHEVSKI EMPHATIC; NO JOB WITH PACKERS

JANUARY 20 (Milwaukee Journal) - Forest Evashevski, Iowa football coach, whose name has frequently been linked in rumors with the vacant Green Bay job, Monday flatly denied again that he had been offered the job or that he had any interest in it. Evashevski was reached in Minneapolis where earlier in the day he had filled a speaking engagement. "Yes, I know Dominic Olejniczak," he said. Olejniczak, president of the Packers, has been leading the hunt for a successor to Scooter McLean who resigned a month ago after the club's worst record in history (1-10-1). "No, the job has not been offered to me," Evashevski said. "No, I would not take it if it were offered to me." Evashevski, who clearly indicated he preferred the atmosphere of a college campus, has five years to on a 10-year contract with the Hawkeyes. He reportedly gets a salary of between $18,000 and $19,000 a year and almost as much from his television program on a statewide network. The Packers are reportedly ready to pay $40,000 for the combined jobs of general manager and coach. (Lisle Blackbourn in his last year as coach received $25,000 and Verne Lewelle, as general manager in name, $12,000). In Green Bay, Olejniczak confirmed that progress in obtaining a new coach had been slow. As club officials prepared to go to the annual league meeting in Philadelphia starting Wednesday, he said: "We've tried, but there is absolutely no chance we'll have a coach by that time. It is something out of our control. I want to point out, though, it is not a catastrophe." The Packer party at the league meeting will include Olejniczak; Jack Vainisi, chief talent scout; Lewellen, general manager; Tom Miller, publicity director, and Fred Trowbridge, Bernard Darling and H.J. Bero of the club's executive committee. The drafting of players, first order of business in Philadelphia, will be handled by Vainisi with the help of Lewellen and Darling who played with the Packers in their early years. Three other names, following Evashevski's statement that he is not interested in the job, immediately bobbed up in the speculation over who might succeed McLean: Jim Trimble of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian league; Hampton Pool of the Toronto Argonauts of the same league, and Blanton Collier of Kentucky. Collier, a former Paul Brown assistant at Cleveland, has steadfastly denied he was interested in the job. Trimble and Pool, however, are known to be vitally interested. Trimble, who has had unusual success in the Canadian league, was interviewed by Olejniczak at the recent NCAA meeting in Cincinnati. He formerly coached the Philadelphia Eagles. Pool once coached the Los Angeles Rams. Curly Lambeau, who has frequently been mentioned as general manager if this job and that of coach were to be filled separately, and who talked with Olejniczak on a brief visit to Green Bay three weeks ago, was on his way back to Green Bay Tuesday from his home in Los Angeles. He was expected there Wednesday.

PACKERS GET ANDY CVERKO

JANUARY 21 (Philadelphia) - Andy Cverko, Northwestern tackle; Willie Taylor, Florida A&M center; Bobby Jackson, Alabama halfback, and Gary Raid, Williamette (Ore.) tackle were Green Bay's first four choices in this order as the NFL draft resumed Wednesday morning. The first four rounds of the 30 round draft were held in December. 26 rounds were to be gone through here.

DRAFT FINISHED, PRO GRIDDERS PUSH FOR PENSION PLAN

JANUARY 22 (Philadelphia) - The NFL, its draft of 360 players completed, met with the players association Thursday to discuss a proposed pension plan. The players, headed by end Bill Howton of Green Bay and Atty. Creighton Miller, hailed the meeting as "their first direct contact" with the owners in a campaign which began in 1956 to provide a pension with health, accident, hospitalization and allowances for permanent injury. Cleveland took halfback Bob Zeman of Wisconsin on the 10th round and guard Jim Fraser , another Badger, on the 21st. Philadelphia picked tackle Lowell Jenkins, also of Wisconsin, on the 27th. Pittsburgh chose end Dave Kocourek of Wisconsin, who already has signed with Winnipeg of the Canadian league, on the 19th round. Washington took tackle Dave Wypyszysnski of St. Norbert on the 12th. Green Bay named center Dick Teteak of Wisconsin on the 15th round and halfback Dave Smith of Ripon on the 21st. Green Bay, which finished last in the league, now owns the rights to the top major and small college quarterbacks in the nation. Randy Duncan, All-American quarterback of Iowa's Big Ten champions, was the Packers' first choice last December in the first four rounds of the draft. Duncan will be graduated in February. The Packers added Bob Webb, little All-American quarterback from St. Ambrose College at Davenport, Iowa, in Wednesday's 11th round.

JIM TRIMBLE BECOMES PROSPECT FOR PACKERS

JANUARY 24 (Milwaukee Journal) - Jim Trimble, former coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and present coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Carts of the Canadian Football League, Saturday became the No. 1 prospect as coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers. These were the developments in a situation the club's screening committee has been working on ever since Ray (Scooter) McLean resigned in mid-December. Trimble, in a taped interview admitted that he had talked with Packer officials several times in the last few weeks. He refused to affirm or deny he would take the job, saying "the timing on any statement at this time would be bad." Packer president Dominic Olejniczak, who first denied he had spoken to Trimble, admitted in Philadelphia that Trimble was one of those under consideration. Trimble, in a newspaper interview in Philadelphia, said he was happy in Hamilton but that he wanted "to win a world championship and the only place to win a world championship is in the NFL." When asked if he had an interest in the Packer job he answered, "Yes at the right salary." Trimble admitted to friends he was very much interested in returning to the NFL. Other coaches whose names have been mentioned in connection with the Green Bay job have repeatedly denied they wanted it, notably Forest Evashevski of Iowa and Blanton Collier of Kentucky.

HAMILTON CATS DENY STORY

JANUARY 24 (Hamilton) - Jake Gaudaur, general manager of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Big Four Football League said Saturday a report that coach Jim Trimble would be the 1959 coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers was untrue. Oliver Kuechle, sports editor of the Milwaukee Journal, said in a television broadcast Friday night that a deal to obtain Trimble for the NFL team had all but been completed. Gaudaur admitted Trimble had been talking to the Packers but said he had turned down the offer. Gaudaur said Trimble had advised the Tiger-Cats at that time of the situation. Trimble, who has put the Tiger-Cats into the Grey Cup final in two of the three season he has been coach, is a former coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL.

$35,000 BID FOR DUNCAN

JANUARY 26 (Des Moines) - Iowa's All-American quarterback Randy Duncan, in the midst of studying for final exams, Monday again declined to discuss his future plans. It was reported that Wayne Robinson, new coach of Vancouver in the Canadian league, offered Duncan in the neighborhood of $35,000 for two years. The Packers, who drafted Duncan last December, probably will have to better the Vancouver offer to land the No. 1 collegiate draft choice.

PACKERS EYE GIANTS COACH

JANUARY 28 (New York) - An official of the New York Giants said Wednesday that the club had given its permission to the Green Bay Packers to negotiate with backfield coach Vince Lombardi. "I know Vince has been speaking to them with our permission," said Ray Walsh, Giants' general manager. "Beyond that I can't say anything." Lombardi could not be reached. The Packers Board of Directions was to meet at noon Wednesday to discuss the coaching situation in Green Bay. The Packers' 1958 record was the worst in the 40 year history of the club, showing only one victory and one tie in 12 games. Lombardi, 45, has been backfield coach and first assistant to Jim Lee Howell since 1954. He has had full responsibility for the Giants' offense. The Giants won the league championship in 1956 and lost the playoff to the Baltimore Colts in 1958.

PACKERS NAMES VINCE LOMBARDI HEAD COACH, GENERAL MANAGER

JANUARY 28 (Green Bay) - Vince Lombardi, 45, who for the last five years has been in charge of the New York Giants' offense, Wednesday was named general manager and head coach of the Green Bay Packers. He has a five year contract. Lombardi, a guard on Fordham University's "seven blocks of granite" line in the middle 1930s, had never before been head coach above the high school level. "My word will be final," Lombardi said Thursday morning in New York. "I've never been associated with a losing team and I hope to instill a winning spirit in the Packers in a lot less than five years." The terms of Lombardi's contract were not revealed. When asked about the dual job of general manager and coach, Lombardi said, "That's the only way I'd take the job. I doubt if I would have come just as coach. This is a better challenge, a better opportunity. I'll have to have a very fine staff and I'm sure I will." Lombardi will come to Green Bay next Monday and spend "two or three days" there. Then he will return to New York to finish his affairs there and will take over full time with the Packers a week from Monday. Lombardi replaces Ray (Scooter) McLean as coach. McLean resigned in December after his first and only Packer team won one game, lost 10 and tied one for Green Bay's worst record in 40 seasons in the NFL. McLean went to Detroit as backfield coach of the Lions under George Wilson. Verne Lewellen has been general manager of the Packers, at least in name. He probably will remain in the organization as business manager. Lombardi said that he planned to speak to Lewellen about it next week. That is what Lewellen's job amounted to in the last five years. Dominic Olejniczak, president of the Packers, said, "Lombardi has the background to be a good administrator. We know that from a couple of long interviews with him. He was our man without a question of a doubt." Olejniczak said that Lombardi's name was the only one presented to the Board of Directors. Of the 45 directors, 27 were on hand. The vote was 26-1 to accept Lombardi. This came after what Olejniczak described as a "healthy discussion". Was it an argument? the president was asked. "No," he said, "not at all. No one tried to tear down the roof. It was just a healthy discussion. That's all." Lombardi said that Jack Vainisi would remain on his staff as personnel scout and assistant. Otherwise, he said that he had selected no one as helpers. "I have about 10 men in mind as assistants," Lombardi said. "I will not take any Giants' assistants (Tom Landry, John Dell Isola and Ken Kavanaugh). I have too much respect for this (New York) organization." Lombardi, who was born June 11, 1913, is a native of Englewood, NJ. He played at Fordham with John Druze, who resigned last fall as Marquette University football coach. Druze played end and Lombardu guard on the "Seven Blocks of Granite". Lombardi was a year ahead of Druze in school. He started his coaching career at St. Cecilia High School in Englewood. He never played pro ball. At St. Cecilia, he used the T formation and in eight years his teams won six state titles. They had a 36 game winning streak. In 1947, Lombardi went back to Fordham as freshman coach. He also was studying law, but when a call came from Earl (Red) Blaik to become assistant coach at Army, Lombardi decided football coaching, not the law, was for him. He was backfield coach at West Point until 1954, when he became Jim Lee Howell's first lieutenant with the Giants. He had complete charge of the offense. In his time, the Giants won two divisional championships - in 1956 and last fall - and one league championship, in 1956 when the Giants beat the Chicago Bears in the playoff, 47-7. Lombardi is married and the father of two children. He is the fifth head coach in the Packers' history. Curly Lambeau, the team's founder, was the first - from 1919 through 1949. Then Gene Ronzani took over until 1953; Lisle Blackbourn from 1954 through 1957, and McLean last year. The executive committee of 13 members has handled many of the duties which Lombardi will presumably take over as general manager.

THE QUEST END; LOMBARDI IS THE MAN

JANUARY 29 (Milwaukee Journal - Oliver Kuechle) - The quest for a coach and general manager at Green Bay is over and there can be only hope today that a calm in which some much needed rebuilding can be done will finally settle over the troubled and faction torn football community. The good wishes that are now flooding over Vince Lombardi as successor to Scooter McLean as coach and Verne Lewellen as general manager are fine. They must warm his heart. The new enthusiasm bursting into flame is good. Spirit and enthusiasm always were two of the chief components of Green Bay teams in their golden years under Curly Lambeau. But these things by themselves are far from enough. They were there in the beginning nine years ago, too, when Gene Ronzani succeeded Lambeau. There were there five years ago when Lisle Blackbourn succeeded Ronzani. They were there a year ago when McLean took over for Blackbourn. The heart of the situation still lies with the meddling little men who thus far have found it impossible to divorce themselves into the front row and who themselves unwittingly have contributed to a decade of failure. Won't they please step aside now and give Lombardi a fair chance on the field? Whether Lombardi is the answer to the club's troubles remains to be seen. The fervent hope, of course, is that he will be. Certain basic recommendations he brings. He was one of Fordham's brightest stars in the middle thirties - a guard. He coached high school ball at St. Cecilia's in Englewood, coached Fordham's freshmen, helped Earl Blaik for five years at the Army. In the last five years, he was assistant to Jim Lee Howell of the New York Giants, collaborating with Ken Kavanaugh in handling the offense while Tom Landry and John Dell Isola handled the defense. Aside from his high school assignment, almost 20 years ago, however, he was never a head coach. And in none of his assignments was he charged with the administrative duties he must now assume in his new position as general manager. That is not to say he cannot fulfill them. He certainly could. But he steps into no ordinary situation. The Packers have floundered around so long that only an exceptionally strong man can straighten things out - unless the meddling little men finally divorce themselves from the operation....GOOD OLD BERT: The fine hand of Bert Bell, commissioner of pro football, could have been the decisive one in the selection. Jim Trimble, coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and a former successful coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, was the first choice as head coach and general manager until Dominic Olejniczak, president of the Packers, spoke to Bell at the draft meeting last week about him. Bell, bluntly, has little use for Trimble. Bell was in the middle of the controversy which preceded Trimble's resignation at Philadelphia. Bell sided with the syndicate of Philadelphia owners when Trimble got into an argument with them over the outside jobs his players held. Trimble spoke his mind and resigned despite a fine record (29-16-3). Bell nodded his head in assent. It was not likely, then, that Olejniczak should win approval from Bell on Trimble as coach. Trimble was not acceptable...BLANK WALL: This is the significant point: Despite Olejniczak's utterances that all was proceeding well in the screening, despite speculation that Forest Evashevski was the No. 1 choice, Bud Wilkinson No. 2, Biggie Munn No. 3, Earl Blaik No. 4 and so forth ad infinitum, Olejniczak had nobody after Trimble until Bell probably suggested Lombardi. No wonder such compete secrecy shrouded the search for so long. There was nobody else. This is the word from Lombardi himself over the telephone Wednesday night: "I was approached for the first time at the draft meeting in Philadelphia last weekend. I was utterly surprised. I went to Green Bay by invitation Monday. I met the executive committee. I told them I would accept if they wanted me. They said they did. That's all there was to it." Won't some of the Fox River oldsters who have bungled so successfully now step aside and give Lombardi the chance he deserves to put the Packers back where they belong? He can do the job but he doesn't need executive committee help - whether from 13 men or six. He needs only Lombardi and the assistants he picks.

LOMBARDI TO BE SUCCESS, GIANTS INSIST

JANUARY 28 (New York) - The football Giants said Wednesday they "hated to lose a fine coach" like Vince Lombardi but believe he will make a success of his new job as head coach and general manager for the Packers. "Vince had another year to go on his contract with us bu we didn't feel we could stand in his way when Green Bay officials approached him during the NFL meeting in Philadelphia last week," said Ray Walsh, New York's general manager. "We hate to lose Vince but we feel he will do a terrific job for the Packers," Walsh added. In New York, Lombardi said he considered the job "a terrific challenge." He previously had indicated interest in Army's vacant head coaching job after Earl (Red) Blaik resigned recently. "But this is even more of a challenge." Lombardi said. "After all, you can't top the brand of football they play in the NFL." Lombardi roared with laughter when reminded that he also was moving into the pass-conscious Western Division, where the emphasis is on his specialty - offense. "Don't try to scare me so soon," he said with a chuckle. "I've taken only a quick look at the Packer roster," Lombardi said. "I'll get into that when I get to Green Bay on Monday. I understand all the assistant coaches who worked with Scooter McLean are gone. That suits me fine because I'd like pick my own assistants and the Packers have give me the right to do that. The Packers first approached me at the league meeting last week. We reached a tentative agreement last Monday and they notified me Wednesday that I had been approved unanimously by the club's Board of Directors." Lombardi indicated he was going "all out" to make a success of his first head coaching job. He said he was making a complete break with New York to shift to Green Bay, probably the most football-conscious city in the nation. He said he planned to sell his house in Fair Lawn, N.J, and move to Green Bay with his wife and two children. "I certainly appreciate the Giants turning me loose," Lombardi said. "I'm making a complete break and moving to Green Bay - lock, stock and barrel."

FOOTBALL 'ART' TO IDEA-MAN LOMBARDI

JANUARY 29 (New York) - Green Bay is getting a man after its own heart in Vince Lombardi. Green Bay believes football is the world's best game, and, for its size, is the game's biggest booster. Lombardi agrees. He eats, sleeps and dreams football. And one of his dreams came true Wednesday when the Packers gave him a five-year contract as head coach and general manager. Lombardi, offensive coach for the Giants for the past five years, scribbles plays on envelopes, matchbox covers or anything else he can find when a play is taking shape in his mind. He considers football an art and, for some time, he has been ready and anxious to put his ideas into action as the head artist. The Packers position is his first head coaching job above the high school level, but his position with the Giants gave him an ample opportunity to test his ability to handle NFL players and tactics. Jim Lee Howell, New York's head coach, gave Lombardi complete charge of the team's offense. Vince designed the plays, explained them on the blackboard and the practice field, handled the offense during games, including player changes, and sometimes called plays. Lombardi also had charge of running off New York's game films and it was his booming voice that distributed praise or scorn, depending upon what showed up on the screen. The Packers, who enjoyed some of their great years when they had Don Hutson to thrill their fans with his pass catching, also are getting an alert imaginative coach in Lombardi. "Vince is the kind of coach I like - daring," Howell once said. The Giants opened their 24-21 upset over the Colts last November 9 by surprising their opponents with a 65-yard pass from Frank Gifford to end Bob Schnelker in the opening seconds. It was a typical Lombardi maneuver. Lombardi joins Paul Brown of the Browns as the only men in the NFL holding both the head coach's and general manager's jobs. Like Brown, who has won more games in the last decade than any other NFL coach, Lombardi switched to football after starting to study law. Lombardi specialized in offense during his years as assistant coach with the Giants, Army and Fordham. But - again like Brown - he knows that defense is the key to football success. "I don't know much about the Packer personnel yet," he said while discussing his new job. "But I'll put the best players on defense. That's the best way to build a team."

PACKERS SIGN ANDY CVERCKO

JANUARY 31 (Green Bay) - The Packers announced the signing of Andy Cvercko, 240 pound tackle from Northwestern University who was their fifth draft choice. Cvercko played an average of 52.2 minutes in each of Northwestern's nine games. Cvercko has been a starter for Northwestern since his sophomore season. He will be a guard on offense for Green Bay.

LOMBARDI RETAINS VAINISI; EYES NICK SKORICH AS AIDE

FEBRUARY 3 (Green Bay) - The Packers' immediate personnel needs are four assistant coaches and a business manager. That was the word today from Vince Lombardi, the club's new head coach and general manager who arrived from his home in Fair Haven, N.J. Monday afternoon. "I hope to have three of the four assistants by next week," Lombardi said, "and one of them might be Nick Skorich. I have been in touch with him." Skorich served as line coach under Ray McLean here last year. The Eagles and Redskins are also interested in Skorich. Lombardi said Skorich would coach the offensive line. Jack Vainisi, the Packer talent scout, will remain and carry on with his present duties, Lombardi announced. Lombardi, accompanied by his wife, Marie, said he may "make a decision on a business manager in a few days." Vince said he wanted to look over the Packer setup before acting. Verne Lewellen, who is replaced by Lombardi as general manager, stated earlier that he will be a candidate for the position of business manager. Lombardi was to be officially introduced to the Packer Board of Directions and the press, radio and television representatives at a luncheon at the hotel Northland this noon. Lombardi was expected to sign a 5-year contract sometime today. The Lombardi's will stay here until Thursday or Friday before winging east for the weekend. He'll return early next week to start fulltime work. Vince said, "we'll rent for a month or two before we buy a home; we'll have to sell our home in Fair Haven." Lombardi was flooded with questions from news hawks practically as soon as he stepped off a North Central Airlines plane Monday. And the questions continued even after they checked at the Northland. Here are some of the answers: "I expect to take a more active part in coaching than Jim (Lee Howell, head coach of the Giants). I'll have a coach in charge of offense and one in charge of defense, but I'll work more with my assistants that Jim did with us." (With the Giants, Lombardi handled the offense and Tom Landry defense). "Yes, I said I'd put my best players on defense, but that's a general view. I certainly do not intend to have Billy Howton, for instance, playing defense. It means that I'll emphasize defense a little more. A good defense is a great morale factor. It hurts the bench and the offense when a team is getting run and scored on. Two-way players? There are some players that just can't be considered 2-way players, but the offensive and defensive linemen will become familiar with each other's plays. I have given considerable thought to my adjustment in coaching (players in large city as compared to players in small city). I realize it will be different here where most everybody knows the players personally. The coaches and players have an entirely different problem compared to large city players who can easily get lost. I hope to hold workouts down to an hour and a half - better yet an hour and 15 minutes if possible. The players will know exactly what they will do in every minute of practice. We won't be using the slot system as you have been using here. Our emphasis will be on power plays. The end will be required to some blocking - just as the slot back. I want to get assistants lined up quickly because of the monumental job ahead. We've got to look over the films and grade all of the offensive players - everyone of them. We'll also grade the defensive players. The grading will be of especial value in judging our offensive materials. I know George Shaw (Baltimore quarterback who has asked to be traded) but I wont' do any trading until I look over our present quarterbacks in the films. That make take a couple of weeks and I don't know if Baltimore will wait that long. There's a good nucleus of veteran players - boys like Ringo, Currie, Bettis, a tough linebacker in Nitschke. I understand Forester didn't have a great year in '58, but he might have a great one next season. Duncan? We're going after him quite soon, and I may go out there to see him (Randy Duncan, Iowa QB and the Packers' first draft choice). I understand he's going into the Army for six months but he should be out in time."

SAY COCHRAN TO BE PACKERS' BACKFIELD COACH

FEBRUARY 3 (Detroit) - John "Red" Cochran will be named backfield coach of the Green Bay Packers, it was learned today. The 36-year old former Chicago Cardinal back was let go recently by the Detroit Lions after three seasons as backfield coach. He was replaced in Detroit by Ray "Scooter" McLean, who quit as Green Bay's head coach. Vince Lombardi last week became Green Bay head coach.

LOMBARDI DOESN'T INTEND ASSOCIATION WITH LOSING TEAM

FEBRUARY 4 (Green Bay) - Vince Lombardi, the new general manager and head coach of the Green Bay Packers has no intention of being associated with a loser here. He made that plain as he met the football club's Board of Directors and other Tuesday. "I've never been associated with a loser," he said forcefully, "and I don't expect to be now. And, I want it understood that I'm in complete control here." Lombardi, the former offensive boss of the New York Giants, was hired by Green Bay to try to pull the Packers out of the cellar. He has hired one assistant coach, John (Red) Cochran, who was an assistant at Detroit last year. He has he has made no decision on a business manager nor had he made any plans for trades yet.

BENGTSON JOINS PACKER STAFF AS DEFENSIVE COACH

FEBRUARY 4 (Green Bay) - Phil Bengtson, assistant coach of the San Francisco 49ers for the last nine season, today was named defensive coach of the Green Bay Packers. Bengtson joins John (Red) Cochran as an aide to Vince Lombardi, the Packers' newly named head coach and general manager. Bengtson resigned from the 49ers' staff after Howard Hickey succeeded Frankie Albert as head coach. A native of St. Paul, Minn., Bengtson played tackle for Minnesota in 1934 and 1935. He then coached at Missouri until 1939. The following year he went to Stanford as an assistant and stayed until 1950, with four years out for wartime service with the Navy.

PACKERS EYE SHAW OF COLTS

FEBRUARY 6 (Milwaukee) - Vince Lombardi, new coach of the Green Bay Packers, said Thursday he would like to have George Shaw of Baltimore, regarded as the "best second string quarterback" in the NFL. "However, I am in position to trade for him," Lombardi said shortly before leaving for New York, "until I've checked our personnel from films. I don't know if Baltimore will wait that long." The Baltimore Colts have asked the Packers and three other NFL teams if they are interested in Shaw. He was reported as being tired of playing second fiddle to Johnny Unitas and asked to be traded. Green Bay was rumored to have offered star end Billy Howton in an even-up swap for Shaw. Baltimore is expected to attempt to make a trade with an Eastern Division club, however, so the quarterback can't come back to haunt them during the season. Others to who Shaw has been offered are the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.

SHAW WANTS ACTION...MAYBE WITH PACK?

FEBRUARY 7 (Portland, OR) - George Shaw, probably the best second-string quarterback in the NFL, said Friday he wants to play football regularly. Shaw is the understudy quarterback to Johnny Unitas of the world champion Baltimore Colts. "I'm 25 years old and feel like I'm still capable of playing in the league as a regular," Shaw said. Shaw was the 1955 bonus draft choice of the Baltimore club and was the first string quarterback until injuring his knee and Unitas took over. Asked about how he would feel about being traded to Green Bay, Shaw said, "The Packers would be a challenge because they finished last." "Who knows," Shaw said, "if the Packers get me I might be playing second string to Joe Francis." Francis played his initial year with the Packers last season after starring at Oregon State as a tailback in the single wing. "It's a tough thing to do, asking to be trade; after all, the Colts are the champions and it's tough to leave. I just want to strike out on my own and play more. They (the Colts) have paid and treated me very well. In pro football you have a limited number of years and I would like to see what I can do again," Shaw asserted.

DUNCAN HEADS TO ARMY

FEBRUARY 7 (Des Moines) - Randy Duncan, Iowa's All-American quarterback, has a date with Uncle Sam coming up and he will not decide for at least a week whether he will sign with the Green Bay Packers. Jack Vainisi, chief talent scout for the Packers, was here Friday for further talks with Duncan. Duncan will leave Saturday for Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., for a six month tour of Army duty. He said he also has an attractive offer from Vancouver in the Canadian league.

50-50 CHANCE OF SIGNING DUNCAN

FEBRUARY 10 (Green Bay) - Vince Lombardi, the new coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers, Monday said the team only has a fifty-fifty chance of signing All-American Randy Duncan to a contract. "We've given Duncan our best offer," Lombardi said, "and the rest is up to him." Duncan was a star quarterback at Iowa and the Packers' No. 1 draft choice. Iowa coach Forest Evashevski advised Duncan to forget about professional football and enter law as a profession. Duncan has left for a six-month tour of duty with the Army.

LOMBARDI NAMES AUSTIN TO STAFF

FEBRUARY 10 (Green Bay) - Vince Lombardi, new head coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers, announced today that he has picked Bill Austin, former star Giants guard, as his offensive line coach. Austin, 29, now is on the coaching staff at Wichita University. He played seven years with the New York Giants, where Lombardi was offensive coach until he took over the Packer helm two weeks ago. Austin, an Oregon State star, was in the Army during the 1951 and 1952 seasons, and was head coach of the Army's Far East championship team while stationed at Tokyo. He is married but has no children.

PACKERS SIGN ANDERSON, NEWELL

FEBRUARY 12 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers have announced the signing of two Drake University players, tackle Charlie Anderson and halfback Tom Newell. Coach Vince Lombardi said Wednesday that Newell was a fast and powerful runner. He was drafted by the Packers in 1958 as a junior eligible. Anderson, 6-5 and 235 pounds, was an outstanding lineman at Drake and also played service football, the coach said.

PACKERS GET OFFER TO TRAIN AT RIPON

FEBRUARY 12 (Ripon) - The Green Bay Packers have been invited to train on the Ripon College campus next summer. The invitation, extended by the Ripon Chamber of Commerce, offered an "ideal climate" and adequate facilities. The Packers trained on the St. Norbert College campus at Green Bay last summer but for several years previously maintained a pre-season base at Stevens Point.

​DUNCAN GETS LAST OFFER FROM PACK LOMBARDI STATES

FEBRUARY 13 (Milwaukee) - The Green Bay Packers have made their final offer to Iowa quarterback Randy Duncan, according to head coach Vince Lombardi. Lombardi, who took over the top job for the NFL team recently, said at a news conference Tuesday that he believed the Packers had offered Duncan "a little better than any other NFL team would have offered him." "I won't go any higher for him," Lombardi said. He did not disclose how much he had offered Duncan to play with the Packers. The Iowa quarterback, an All-American and the Packers' No. 1 draft choice also is being wooed by Vancouver of the Canadian league. Vancouver offered him $35,000 for two years. Lombardi added that if Duncan does cast his lot with the Packers he will probably need at least a year of seasoning and would be of little help this year. He said that he still is interested in George Shaw, the Baltimore Colts quarterback who is tired of playing in the shadow of Johnny Unitas and wants to be traded. Lombardi indicated he would decide on his No. 1 quarterback, at least on paper, from the game films. Carryover signal callers are Babe Parilli, Bart Starr and Joe Francis. Lombardi said no decision had been made as to where the Packers would train this summer or a business manager.

PACKERS FAIL TO LIST DIVISION OF CONTESTS

FEBRUARY 13 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers today made public their home 1959 NFL schedule, but did not announce the division of the games between Green Bay and Milwaukee. Coach Vince Lombardi had indicated earlier that four of the six homes games would be played in City Stadium and two in Milwaukee County Stadium, the same division as last year. The schedule: September 27, Chicago Bears; October 4, Detroit Lions; October 11, San Francisco 49ers; October 18, Los Angeles Rams; November 15, Baltimore Colts, and November 22, Washington Redskins.

MILWAUKEE TO SEE RAMS, COLTS IN '59

FEBRUARY 18 (Milwaukee) - The Green Bay Packers will meet Los Angeles and Baltimore in Milwaukee County Stadium this fall, with their four other games in their NFL home schedule played at Green Bay's new City Stadium. The 2-4 split is the same as in 1958.

PACKERS REELING FROM 1-2 PUNCH OF LOST PERSONNEL

FEBRUARY 20 (Green Bay) - "Evidently Duncan did not have the confidence to play in our league." That was the reaction of Head Coach Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers Thursday when he learned that All-America quarterback Randy Duncan of Iowa turned his back on the Packers in favor of Vancouver in the Canadian Football league. Reached at Newark, N.J. airport during a stopover, Lombardi said the Packers had given Duncan "the best offer we possible could give - even a little more. Our offer was as good as any first draft choice could get," Lombardi said. "Naturally, we feel badly." Duncan, now on six months active duty with the Army at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., is believed to have signed with the British Columbia Lions for $35,000 for two years. He made his decision known through his father, Hearst R. Duncan, Des Moines, Ia., attorney. The elder Duncan said Randy's decision was prompted more by a desire to play pro football immediately then by the Lions' better offer. Later Randy confirmed this saying, "I talked with scouts for the Packers and they told me it would take two or three years to become a good quarterback in the NFL. I don't have that much time," he added. The former Hawkeye star said he never met or talked with Lombardi. "I don't know where he got the idea that I can't play in his league," Duncan asserted. Hank Bullough, the Packers' regular guard in 1955 and against last season after two years of military service, has quit the playing ranks to be an assistant coach at Michigan State, his alma mater. In Bullough's case, his decision to leave the playing ranks was probably made in view of his physical condition. Bullough suffered a knee injury last season and played several games despite the handicap. But after the eighth game of the season he underwent surgery and was out of the lineup. Bullough was regarded as the Packers' star blocking guard and it figured he will be a hard man to replace.

HECKER NEW PACKER AIDE TO LOMBARDI

FEBRUARY 24 (Green Bay) - Norb Hecker, 31, former NFL and Canadian professional football veteran, was signed as assistant coach Monday by Packers' general manager-coach Vince Lombardi. Hecker, who played three seasons with the Washington Redskins, will coach defensive backs and offensive ends, Lombardi said. Hecker was a player-coach with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last season, but left the Canadian team following the third game because of a recurrence of a knee injury. Hecker's home is Berea, Ohio, and he got his college football experience at Baldwin-Wallace. He is married and is the father of four children.

PACKERS WILL WIN - LOMBARDI

MARCH 3 (Green Bay) - Vince Lombardi, the new head coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers, told a stockholders' meeting Monday the club was going to win football games next season. "I'm no magician," Lombardi said, "but we're going to win game somehow." Lombardi said he and his coaching staff have finished grading films of 12 games the Packers played last year. Despite the many weak spots, he said, there is still room to build a team around the good points. John B. Torinus, a director, presented a financial report listing a net profit of $70,106 for 1958; compared with $50,130 the previous year. Torinus said the income for games at Green Bay was up $135,000 over 1957 because of a fourth NFL game and an additional exhibition contest. He said the gross income was $835,867 and total expenses $782,257. Additional income from other sources, Torinus said, boosed the profit to $70,106. Changes were made in the team's articles of incorporation to place several new sections in the bylaws, including the designation of officers and the size of the Board of Directors. The 45-member Board of Directions will be continued but the offices of chairman of the Board and second vice president were eliminated. A provision was also inserted stating members of he Board of Directors who miss three consecutive meetings will be considered as automatic resignations. One new director was elected. He is Haydn R. Evans, general manager of WBAY and WBAY-TV in Green Bay. He succeeds the late Louis Levitas. Directors re-elected to three year terms include Jerry Atkinson, Frank Birch, G.W. Calhoun, Max Cohodas, Charles Egan, L.H. Joannes, David B. Kuenzli, Charles P. Mathys, Arthur Mongin, Carl Mraz, Maxwell D. Murphy, Albert Puelicher, John Stahas, Torinus and Fred Trowbridge.

WEBB INKS PACKER PACT

MARCH 7 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers announced today that Bob Webb, brilliant quarterback from St. Ambrose College of Davenport, Iowa, has signed a NFL contract with the Bays. Webb holds the national intercollegiate record for the most yards gained passing in four years with a 5,114 yard total.

PACKERS TO TRAIN AT ST. NORBERT AGAIN

MARCH 18 (Green Bay) - Vince Lombardi, head coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers, said today that his NFL charges would train this year at St. Norbert College, less than five miles from home. The Packers also trained at the college last year.

LEWELLEN WILL STAY AS PACKER AIDE

MARCH 19 (Green Bay) - Verne Lewellen, former general manager of the Green Bay Packers, has been named administrative assistant of the NFL club, Vince Lombardi, head coach and general manager, announced here Wednesday. Jack Vainisi, who has been talent scout for the past nine years, was named business manager but will continue his player procurement duties. Lewellen will handle special assignments, such as helping with radio and television contracts, game programs and assisting Vainisi in scouting.

LOMBARDI WOOS FANS IN LETTER

MARCH 24 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers are sending out form letters to season ticket holders with a personal message from Coach Vince Lombardi, saying, "I hope and believe I can bring back the Packers along the path of glory that they knew so well." The letter mentions the Packers' red-letter days in the NFL - days which have been few and far between since their last world championship in 1944. "It was here that the greatest pro player of all time was fostered and developed," writes Lombadi, who doubles as general manager. "I speak, of course, of Don Hutson. I want to you to understand I am no miracle maker;I have no rabbits in my hat; I have no illusions of grandeur, but with hard work, intelligent organization and good assistant coaches," his letter continues, "success will not avoid the Packers for long." Lombardi promises "an interesting offense. We shall feature a split end to one side and a flanking back to the other, with generous use of the option pass or run, providing, of course, we have the necessary personnel," the letter says, adding: "I would be out of my mind to make any predictions about this coming season. I wouldn't if I could. There are many weaknesses which I shall not enumerate. But I am far from disheartened....We have a nucleus around which we shall try to build."

PACKERS TRADE BILL HOWTON TO BROWNS FOR 2 PLAYERS

APRIL 25 (Green Bay) - The Billy Howton era in Packer football is over. The Rice redhead, who ranked as the No. 2 pass receiver in Packer history - next to the immortal Don Hutson, was traded Friday to the Cleveland Browns for the following two veterans: Bill Quinlan, a 245-pound defensive end and Lew Carpenter, a 205-pound bread-and-butter halfback. The deal was announced in Philadelphia where the three key trade figures are attending a special league meeting - Vince Lombardi, general manager and coach of the Packers; Paul Brown, ditto of the Browns; and Howton. Howton is in Philly as president of the NFL Players Association. Quinlan, 26, was the Browns' regular left defensive end in 1957-58 after a year in Canada and two in service. Drafted fourth in '56, Quinlan played college ball at Michigan State. Carpenter, 26, was obtained for ex-Packer Roger Zatkoff in a trade with Detroit in 1957. Lew joined the Lions in 1953, played three years, spent '56 in the Army and then played two seasons with the Browns. Lombardi said Quinlan fills a "big need at defensive end." He had said earlier that the club needs strengthening at that position. Vince said he feels Carpenter is the type of back that will keep the Packer offense going. Carpenter is a steady type, averaging an even four years in approximately 400 carries. "Both clubs will be helped by this trade - we have definitely strengthened our ball club," Vince added. "Howton is an experienced and fast end, a quality football player who should give us the kind of help we need on offense," Brown said. The departure of Howton isn't leaving the Packers high and dry for offensive ends...blessed with three good pass catching ends before the trade, the Bays now probably split the other wings - Max McGee and Gary Knafelc, who both played the left wing while Billy was at right. These two will be pushed by Steve Meilinger, the veteran slotback - three highly-rated rookie catchers - Boyd Dowler, the No. 3 draft choice; Ken Higgenbotham of Texas Trinity; and Buddy Mayfield of South Carolina. Howton played seven seasons with the Packers and caught 303 passes second only to Huston's 489 in 11 season. Billy broke two of Hutson's records, piling up 1,231 yards on catches in 1952 (Howton's top was 1,188) and adding 257 against Los Angeles in 1956. Howton caught over 50 passes in three different season - 1952, 1954 and 1956 but his production dropped off on 1957. Howton failed to lead the Packers in pass catching last year for the first time in his career here. McGee beat him out by one catch. Carpenter, former Arkansas Starr, was a sort of stopper back for the Browns. He joined the club late in '57 and averaged 3.8 yards on 83 carries ranking second behind Jim Brown. Last year he lugged 73 times and averaged 4.2. Carpenter rated third last year when Bobby Mitchell crowded him out of action in the first seven games. He figures to toughen a backfield composed of Paul Hornung, Howie Ferguson, Jim Taylor, Jack Losch and Don McIlhenny. Lew hails from Earle, Arkansas, where was works for an air conditioning firm. Quinlan operates a sporting goods store in North Andover, Mass.

QUINLAN SAYS HE'LL REPORT TO GREEN BAY

APRIL 28 (Green Bay) - Defensive end Bill Quinlan changed his mind and mood Monday and said he'll play with the Green Bay Packers after all. Quinlan was traded to the NFL team with Lew Carpenter of the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Green Bay offensive end Billy Howton. He said he was irked because the first he knew of the trade was what he read in the newspapers. "Would you want to go from the Yankees to the Athletics? It's the same thing going from Cleveland to Green Bay," Quinlan said, before telling Packer business manager Jack Vainisi he would join the squad. Vainisi said he got Quinlan on the telephone and reached an agreement with the 245-pound lineman by explaining some of the details of the contract the Packers were prepared to offer. Quinlan said earlier that he was considering a coaching position with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. He played with Hamilton in 1954. The Packers also announced the signing of safetyman Bobby Dillon and defensive end Nate Borden to 1959 contracts.

NEW PROGRAM OF PACKERS COMPLETED

APRIL 29 (Green Bay) - The control of coach and general manager Vince Lombardi over the Green Bay Packers was tightened Tuesday as the NFL club's board completed its promised reform program. Thirty of the 45-member Board voted unanimously Tuesday to trim the executive committee from 13 members to seven, eliminating a vice president and end the practice of weekly meetings of the committee. Officers re-elected were Dominic Olejniczak, president; Richard Bourguignon, vice president; and John Torinus, secretary. Torinus gave up up his other job, treasurer of the Packers, and Fred Trowbridge was named to the post. The vice presidency held by Lee Joannes was abolished. Members of the seven-man committee include the four officers and Leslie J. Kelly, Jerry Atkinson and Tony Canadeo, all of Green Bay. Canadeo is the only former player on the executive committee.

MAC MCGEE SIGNS PACKER CONTRACT

APRIL 30 (Green Bay) - Max McGee, leading pass receiver of the Green Bay Packers, signed his contract for the 1959 season. Coach Vince Lombardi also announced that Ken Higgenbotham of Trinity University, San Antonio, Tex., also had been signed. McGee, who was also the Packers' leading punter and was fourth in that department in the NFL with a 42.3 average, has been with the team since 1954. He caught 37 passes for 655 yards and seven touchdowns last year. Higgenbotham, 22, is 6-3 and weighs 205 pounds.

BAYS SIGN TWO

MAY 2 (Green Bay) - A pair of free agents - Jim Yeats of the University of Florida and Bob Clark of Louisiana College - have been signed to NFL contracts, the Green Bay Packer said Friday. Both are 6-4 and both weigh 230 pounds.

LOMBARDI WILL REVIVE BONUS PLAN

MAY 5 (Green Bay) - Vince Lombardi, head coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers, said Monday he's going to revive the cash bonus system for his NFL players. Lombardi added, however, he will first adjust the salaries of his players according to the length of time each man is on the field because "these are the men who must be taken care of." Bonuses will be paid to the players who recover fumbles, block punts and intercept passes. Training will begin at St. Norbert College July 25, Lombardi said.

PACKER TICKET SALES 10 PERCENT AHEAD

MAY 6 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers have sold more than 23,000 season tickets, and now have only 9,000 seats left to be sold for each of the four NFL games here next fall. The sale is running 10 percent ahead of last year when 26,078 season tickets were sold for an all-time record. Officials believe that the sale may reach as high as 28,000 to 30,000 in the new 32,500-seat City Stadium.

TWO MORE ROOKIES SIGN WITH PACKERS

MAY 7 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers announced today the signing of halfback Leroy Hardee of Florida A&M, and quarterback Bob Laraba of Texas Western to NFL contracts. Hardee was selected to the Pittsburgh Courier Negro All-American team last year. He is a 6-footer who weighs 180. Laraba is 6-2 and weighs 195. Coach Vince Lombardi said he plans to use Hardee on offense and Laraba as a defensive back.

LINEMEN PICKED

MAY 8 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers announced today the signing of two linemen chosen in the 1959 draft - Willie Taylor of Florida A&M and Dick Nearents of Eastern Washington College. Packer head coach Vince Lombardi said he plans to use the 6 foot, 230 pound Taylor as an offensive guard or center. Taylor was the Packers' 6th draft choice. Nearents, 24, a 6-2, 265-pound tackle, lives in Pasco, Wash.

PACKERS HAVE 28 IN FOLD FOR '59 PLAY

MAY 12 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers brought the number of signed players to 28 Monday with the addition of a rookie offensive tackle and a veteran defensive tackles. Jerry Helluin, a four-season Packer veteran, and Ken Kerr, Green Bay's 14th draft choice, were added to the 1959 roster. Helluin, 29, a Tulane University product, came to the Packers in 1955 from Cleveland. He immediately on a regular spot at defensive tackle and kept it up to last season, when he was sidelined with an injury. Helluin is 6-2 and weighs 275 pounds. Kerr, an Arizona State graduate, also weighs 275 pounds. Packer scouts say he has good speed and can play offensive guard or tackle as well as defense. Helluin suffered a shoulder separation in an intra-squad game last season and was out the entire campaign. He said the injury has completed healed.

PACKERS EYE LAMAR MCHAN

MAY 22 (Chicago) - Quarterback Lamar McHan is going to be traded by the Chicago Cardinals, the Chicago Tribune said it learned today. The Tribune said a deal for McHan with either the Green Bay Packers or a Canadian team is imminent. The former Arkansas star was the Cards' top draft choice in 1954. McHan was quoted as saying: "I am quite sure they would like to trade me if they get a good deal. Mr. Ivy (Coach Frank Ivy) has mentioned some clubs to me, but it is my understanding nothing has been done yet." Cardinal officials were not immediately available for comment.

PACKERS GET QB MCHAN FROM CARDS

MAY 23 (Green Bay) - Lamar McHan come to the Packers on an "if" basis. This was revealed today by Packer Coach-General Manager Vince Lombardi following the trade that sent the veteran quarterback to Green Bay for an undisclosed draft choice Friday night. If McHan makes the final 35-player squad list, the deal will be closed and the Cardinals will receive the draft pick - probably a high one. If McHan fails to make the "35", he will be returned to the Cards and the deal will be nullified. Lombardi was pleased with the trade because, as he explained, "we have nothing to lose. If McHan makes it we will gain a veteran quarterback, and if he doesn't make it we will retain our draft selection." The addition of McHan swells the Packers' quarterback roster to five. The 6-1, 200-pound Cardinal joins Packer veterans Bart Starr, Babe Parilli and Joe Francis and the good-looking rookie QB from St. Ambrose, Bob Webb. Cardinal Coach Pop Ivy, unless he has another deal going, plans to go with quarterbacks M.C. Reynolds, King Hill and service-returnee John Roach. McHan is the second top veteran traded by Ivy who recently traded Ollie Matson to the Rams. Lombardi knows McHan - probably better than he knows the Packer veterans, since his former club, the Giants, battled the Cardinals and McHan twice each year in the Eastern Division. McHan's first year was in 1954, which was Vince's first year with the Giants. McHan, former University of Arkansas star, pitched 50 touchdowns passes in the five Card seasons and completed 433 passes for 6,578 yards. He was just a "short" pitch from breaking three all-time Cardinal passing records set by the great Paul Christman. McHan led the Eastern Division in passing in 1957 and ranked fifth in the league in '57. In his best single game McHan hurled four TD passes against the Eagles in '56, completing 11 out of the 16 attempts. The rugged QB, who turned 26 last December 16, is one of the league's better running quarterbacks. He lugged 190 times in five seasons for 652 yards - just under 4 yards per, and scored 11 touchdowns.

CARPENTER IN FOLD

MAY 26 (Green Bay) - Lew Carpenter, veteran fullback acquired from Cleveland in the Billy Howton deal, has returned his signed 1959 contract to the Green Bay Packers. Bill Quinlan, the other Cleveland player involved, was signed to a Packer contract May 5.

FILMS TO AID VINCE LOMBARDI IN MAKING CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

MARCH 25 (Green Bay) - Movie films will help the Green Bay Packers' new head coach Vince Lombardi decide how much his players are worth when contract time rolls around in April. Many of the Packer players have never met Lombardi. But he knows plenty about them after studying "about 13,000 feet" of film from their 12 games last fall. "I know these boys pretty well now," said Lombardi, who was hired as coach and general manager in January, following the Packers' worst year ever in the NFL. "From what we've seen, there'll be no great raises. But there won't be any cuts either," said Lombardi. The straight-talking New Yorker, former offensive wizard of the New York Giants, said the films showed him "several weaknesses" in the Packers, who won only one of 12 games in 1958. But, he's far from discouraged. He knew the situation when he took over. Eager fans here and about in this smallest city in the NFL want another winner. They haven't had one since the great end Don Hutson quit in the early 1940s. Lombardi said he has enough "good football players" for a nucleus around which to start his rebuilding. He won't make any cuts until he's seen the players in person in summer drills. "Then we'll know for sure what we've got. If we need a player we'll trade anyone to get him," he said. Well, almost anyone. A couple for sure not to go are offensive center Jim Ringo and defensive halfback Bobby Dillon, both all pro a year ago. "We're probably stronger at linebacker than anyone, and we could use some of these boys for trades," Lombardi said. The Packer quarterback trio of Babe Parilli, Bart Starr and Joe Francis isn't as "desperate" as Lombardi thought. "I'm not convinced that the quarterbacks were entirely to blame for last year's poor offense. The offensive line didn't appear too strong," he said. The fortyish-crew cut Lombardi said he took the Packer job because it offered him the two-fold opportunity of running the team on the field and in the office. The only thing he has to discuss with anyone else before making a decision, he said, "is the budget." He declines to predict how many years it will take him to make the Packers contenders again in the NFL. He has already told season ticket holders "not to expect miracles" the first year. "I'm just hoping they love me in November like they love me now," he said.

ZATKOFF SAYS HE'S THROUGH

MARCH 25 (Detroit) - The Detroit Lions suffered a severe jolt Tuesday when linebacker Roger Zatkoff, the Michigan great, announced his retirement from the NFL. Twice an All-Pro selection, Zatkoff said he was calling it quits because of increase business pressure and because of a knee injury. Zatkoff, who became 28 today, formerly starred with the Green Bay Packers.

PACKERS SIGN TWO ROOKIE DRAFT CHOICES

MARCH 28 (Green Bay) - Vince Lombardi, head coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers, today announced the signing of Bill Butler, halfback from the University of Chattanooga, and quarterback Bobby Jackson of Alabama. Butler, whose home is in nearby Berlin, is small as pro players go at 5'10" and 180 pounds, but according to pro scouts is a player who has a tremendous amount of desire and ability. Butler played four years as a regular left halfback for the University of Chattanooga and led the team in ground gaining in 1956, 1957 and 1958 and in scoring in his junior and senior seasons. He carried the ball 95 times for 413 yards and a 4.4 yard average per carry. He also caught 15 passes for 313 yards. Butler was honorable mention Little All-American in 1956, 1957 and 1958, and played in the All-Star Copper Bowl at Phoenix after last season. Chattanooga Coach Scrappy Moore called Butler the best all-around halfback in the school's history. Bobby Jackson working out of Alabama's split-T attack threw 58 times for 29 completions and 408 yards. He carried the ball 143 times for 472 yards and a total offense of 880 yards, fifth best in the Southwestern Conference. Last season Jackson was selected to play in the Blue-Gray and Senior Bowl games and was a standout as a defensive safety where both he and Butler will be competing for positions. Jackson was Green Bay's 7th draft selection and Butler went on the 19th round.

BETTER YEAR FORESEEN BY BAY LINEMAN

APRIL 2 (Neenah) - The promise of better things in the world of the Green Bay Packers was discussed by Bob Skoronski, offensive lineman, at the Wednesday noon meeting of the Neenah Kiwanis club at the Valley Inn. Skoronski, who has been in the service the last two years, touched on the modernization of the Packer organization and described new Coach-General Manager Vince Lombardi as "the supreme commander", one who is concise and "what he tells you, you'll remember." The former Indiana tackles said that the letter sent out by Lombardi to the season ticket holders typifies his character - he doesn't promise 12 wins but good football. Skoronski, who played with the Bays in 1956 and then spent 25 months in the Air Force, played with the championship service team in 1957 and 1958. He said he hopes to be a part of the Bay team and will be competing against three veterans and three new linemen for his position. In service, Skoronski played against Jack Losch, the Packers' No. 1 draft choice in 1956. The Miami halfback is expected to be out of service in three or four weeks. As for Ron Kramer, called by the speaker the finest competitor he ever met, his situation is indefinite. Kramer still is in service but his case is being reviewed because of an injury. The offensive tackle declared all the veterans will be back and that the team will use a new system minus a slotback, the offense used so successfully by the New York Giants and in which Lombardi had a big hand. He told that Paul Hornung probably will be used at a halfback to take advantage of his passing ability. Packer officials hope he may become a Gifford-like player. The speaker said that defensive ends were considered the Bays' weakest positions last year and he has his fingers crossed that some of the linemen may be shifted to those spots. Skoronski said he thinks a lot of Green Bay and th people in it. He pointed out he was born in Connecticut, went to school in Indiana and five days after he was out of service was back in the Packer city. He has been out of service about four weeks.

​HORNUNG TO TRY QUARTER WITH "PACK"

APRIL 3 (Green Bay) - Paul Hornung, who starred at quarterback at Notre Dame has decided to return to the Green Bay Packers this year and probably will get a shot at the signal caller job here. Coach Vince Lombardi said that Hornung had called him Thursday and said he would return to Green Bay to fulfill his three year contract signed in 1957. It had been reported that Hornung was considering a motion picture offer and retiring from professional football. One of the reasons Hornung is returning, according to Lombardi, is because he will get a chance at the quarterback post. The coach added, however, that he preferred using Hornung at a halfback post where he could run or pass off the option. Hornung played at fullback most of the 1957 and 1958 seasons. He led the team in ground gaining last year with 310 yards and in scoring with 67 points.

PACKERS SIGN TWO HALFBACKS

APRIL 8 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers announced today signing of two halfbacks, drafted in 1957 for their NFL team. They are Jim Morse of Notre Dame and Ken Wineburg of Texas Christian. Wineburg has been in the armed services and Morse has been with Calgary in the Canadian league. The Packers Tuesday scheduled an exhibition game with the Philadelphia Eagles in Portland, Ore., Saturday night August 29. The Packers open their exhibition season in Milwaukee August 15 against the Chicago Bears and then play the 49ers in San Francisco August 23.

PACKERS SIGN TWO VETERANS BUT LOSE CARLTON MASSEY

APRIL 11 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers signed two veterans Friday and at the same time learned they had lost a dependable linebacker - Carlton Massey. Signed were Bob Skoronski, a tackle, and Gary Knafelc, an end, according to Coach Vince Lombardi. Skoronski played with the Packers in 1956 before he went into service where he played two years. Knafelc was hampered by injuries in both the 1957 and 1958 seasons and saw only limited action. Massey, defensive end and linebacker for the Packers last year, announced at San Antonio he was retiring from pro football to remain in private business. He is a 5-year veteran, including three years with Cleveland and two with Green Bay. Skoronski played outstanding ball for Bolling Air Force Base for the last two seasons. The former Indiana captain stands 6-3 and weighs 250. Skoronski, since being separated from service in March, has been working in public relations for the Packers. Knafelc was off to a fast start in the first three games in 1957 when a freak accident causing a knee lock occurred in practice. In three games that season he caught nine passes for 16 yards and two touchdowns. Gary sustained the exact injury on the other knee in the fifth game of the 1958 season against the Philadelphia Eagles. Up to that time, he had caught eight passes for 118 yards and one touchdown.

PACKERS HAVE SOLD 18,342 SEASON TICKETS

APRIL 17 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers reported Thursday that 18,342 season tickets, 13,708 short of capacity, had been sold for the four 1959 NFL home games. This despite the fact the Packers had their poorest season in history last year with a 1-10-1 record.

​PACKERS INK BART STARR, DAN CURRIE

APRIL 24 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers today announced the signing of quarterback Bart Starr and linebacker Dan Currie to 1959 contracts. Currie was the Packers' No. 1 draft choice of last year and played regular linebacker last fall. Starr completed 79 of 157 passes for 875 yards and three touchdowns last season. Against the world champion Baltimore Colts Starr set two Packers' single game records with 26 completions in 46 pass attempts for 320 yards. Starr broke the single game record of passes attempted set by Tobin Rote in 1954. Rote

PACKERS SIGN RIPON COLLEGE FULLBACK SMITH

JUNE 9 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers have signed fullback Dave Smith, 21st draft choice of Ripon College, and eighth draft choice, end Buddy Mayfield of South Carolina, head coach Vince Lombardi said today. Mayfield, 6-2 and 190 pounds, has tremendous endurance, great speed and can catch the ball. He was the Atlanta Coast Conference's top prospect in the 220 and 440. He is state champion in both events. Smith, who received Little All-America honorable mention, was chosen as the fullback on the Midwest Conference team for the third straight year. Last season at Ripon, Smith carried 148 times for 778 yards and a 5.5 yard average. He scored 102 points on 17 touchdowns, a Midwest Conference record. Smith is also a sprinter on the track team.

PACKERS SEARCH FOR SITE IN AREA

JUNE 10 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers probably will train in the Milwaukee area the last two weeks before the opening of the 1959 NFL season. Head coach and general manager Vince Lombardi said today he planned to check on several possible training sites in the metropolitan area next week before selecting a location. The Packers will open training camp July 25. They will live at St. Norbert College at nearby West De Pere and work out near their home stadium. Lombardi said he wanted to keep the team together in the two weeks prior to the NFL opening against the Chicago Bears at Green Bay September 25. If suitable facilities can be found, the Packers will stay in the Milwaukee area after they return from an exhibition game against the Washington Redskins at Winston-Salem, N.C. September 12.

DILLON, ACE PACKER HB, QUITS GAME

JUNE 10 (Green Bay) - Defensive halfback Bobby Dillon, one of the key players in the Green Bay Packers' rebuilding program, announced Wednesday he is retiring from professional football to go into business in his home town of Temple, Texas. Packers' Coach and General Manager Vince Lombardi called the decision by Dillon, 29, "a very difficult blow." Dillon, although handicapped by only one eye, was the praise of virtually every opposing players and coach in his pro career of seven years with the Packers. He was named to the UPI NFL's all-pro teams in 1955, '56 and '58. "He is the best in the league," Lombari said. "A man like Dillon is irreplacable at this time. It wasn't a question of finances at all because he had already signed his contract." Dillon will become assistant sales manager of the Ralph Wilson Plastic Co. in Temple. He also will continue to operate his sports renovating service in Temple, where he was born and raised. "I took this job while still planning to play," Dillon said, "but it's turned out so well and I've got a chance to make it permanent. I couldn't turn it down. I always said I wouldn't announce quitting until I meant it and I mean it now. I know I'll miss playing, but I feel real lucky that I was able to play as long as I did. It wasn't a matter of money as I was entirely satisfied with what the Packers paid me. I'd like to play under Lombardi as he sounds like just what the Packers need. But I've got a family with a girl in school and I have to look to the future," he added. Called "a coach on the field", Dillon was one of the few bright spots in the Packers team which went down to its worst season in 40 years last year with a 1-10-1 record.

BOYD DOWLER SIGNS PACT, MAY PLAY END

JUNE 11 (Green Bay) - Colorado's Boyd Dowler - the third draft choice of the Green Bay Packers last fall - returned his contract for the 1959 season Wednesday. Vince Lombardi, head coach and general manager, said he'll probably switch Dowler from quarterbacking to an end position to capitalize on his pass receiving ability. Lombardi said he may also use him as a kicker. Dowler caught 37 passes for 567 yards during his last two seasons in college and averaged 43.3 yards on 33 kicks last season. He also led Colorado's aerial attack with 35 completions in 77 attempts for 320 yards. Dowler is 22 years old and is the 6-foot-5 son of Walter Dowler of Cheyenne, Wyo., a former high school coach and star football player at Wyoming University.

PACKERS SELL 25,000 GREEN BAY TICKETS

JUNE 15 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packer have sold nearly 25,000 advance season tickets for the four games to be played in Green Bay next fall by the NFL club. Last year an all-time high of 26,087 were sold. For the two NFL games at Milwaukee County Stadium, 6,230 tickets have been sold.

PACKERS TO TRY HUGE PREP STARS

JUNE 16 (Green Bay) - Jerry Sprangers and Bob Eiting, a couple of huge high school football stars, will have tryouts with the Green Bay Packers next month. Vince Lombardi, head coach and general manager, said Sprangers and Eiting will report to the Packers' training camp at St. Norbert College July 25. Sprangers is a Green Bay Premontre graduate and Eiting attended Kaukauna High School. They both weigh 257 pounds and stand 6-feet-5.

PACKERS SIGN PARILLI, END

JUNE 17 (Green Bay) - Quarterback Vito "Babe" Parilli and end Steve Meilinger have returned their signed 1959 contracts to the Green Bay Packers, head coach and general manager Vince Lombardi said today. Parilli and Meilinger were former University of Kentucky greats. Parilli was the most valuable player in the 1952 All-Star game. He was the Packers' first draft choice in 1951. Meilinger was selected in the first round of the draft by the Washington Redskins in 1954. He came to the Packers last season in a trade with the Redskins. He caught 13 passes for 139 yards and one touchdown.

PACKERS OPEN SKULL DRILLS FOR 5 PLAYERS

JUNE 22 (Green Bay) - Classroom workouts began today for five Green Bay Packers' quarterbacks to get them mentally conditioned for the 1959 NFL season. Vince Lombardi, the Packers' new head coach and general manager, called in the signal callers to begin a week of skull drills on plays, formations and changeups in the Green Bay Packer offense and defense. Quarterbacks getting the special tutoring are returning veterans Bart Starr, Babe Parilli and Joe Francis; Bob Webb, rookie from St, Ambrose College, and Lamar McHan, veteran obtained from the Chicago Cardinals for a future Packer draft choice. "We want them to have a head start so they can do their jobs intelligently," Lombardi said. Lombardi plans to have the quarterbacks review films of NFL opponents, but he made it clear that least season - the Packers' worst in their 40-year history - is a thing of the past.

LOU PALATELLA COMES TO TERMS

JUNE 23 (Green Bay) - The signing of guard Lou Palatell, a four-year veteran in the NFL, was announced today by the Green Bay Packers. Palatella, a former star at the University of Pittsburgh, was obtained by the Packers from the San Francisco 49ers. Green Bay general manager and coach Vince Lombardi also reported that defensive back Earl Wayne Miller of Belton, Texas will report to training camp next month. Miller, a 12th draft choice in 1957, missed all last season because of a knee injury.

PACKERS BUY TUNNELL, VET DEFENSIVE BACK

JUNE 28 (New York) - Emlen Tunnell, veteran defensive halfback of the New York Giants, was sold Friday to the Green Bay Packers. Tunnell, former State University of Iowa players, will be starting his 12th season in the NFL. He holds the league record of having played in 140 consecutive games. He also holds league records for most punt returns in one season, 38, in 1953; the most punt returns in a career, 253, and the most pass interceptions in a career, 74.

PACKERS CLOSE BOOK ON 1959 DRAFT ROSTER

JUNE 30 (Green Bay) - The Packers closed the book on the 1959 draft list today with the signing of the seventh, eleventh and twenty-fourth choices. Coach-GM Vince Lombardi announced that signed playing documents have been received from tackle Gary Raid of Williamette, the seventh pick; guard Larry Hall of Missouri Valley, eleventh; and linebacker Joe Hergert of Florida, the twenty-fourth. All of the '59 draftees, except one Canadian escapee and the junior eligibles, are now in the fold and will report to practice next July 25. The lone loss is Randy Duncan, the Iowa quarterback who was drafted No. 1. Raid actually represents the draft choice payment from the New York Giants for guard Al Barry, the veteran who was traded shortly before the '58 season. Lombardi announced that Raid will seek employment as an offensive tackle. He's good size for the work - 255 pounds and 6-2. He's a rough blocker. Raid made the All-Northwest Conference team and the Associated Press Little All-America. He played in the All-American Bowl game in Tucson last January. The Williamette ace and his line coach, Bill Austin, both starred at Woodburn High School in Woodburn, Oregon. Hall was placed on the Williamson Rating System All Star first team, the Missouri Collegiate Athletic union star team and the NAIA Little All-American. Hall, who stands 6 feet tall and weighs 235 pounds, is an aggressive downfield blocker and will be used as an offensive guard. Hergert likes to hit hard and comes highly recommended as a pro-type linebacker. He stands 6-2 and packs 220 pounds. He is currently finishing up a six month tour of duty with the Army.

Appleton Post-Crescent - July 9th 1959

BAYS OFFER ADDED RENT FOR STADIUM

JULY 11 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers Friday offered to pay an additional $20,000 in 1959 rent for use of City Stadium. Dominic Olejniczak, president of the Green Bay Packers Corp., told the City Stadium Commission in a letter that the team's use of the stadium had increased more than anticipated. The team originally agreed to pay $30,000 a year rent for 20 years. Friday's offer applies only to 1959. The commission said it would use the additional fund to build more toilet facilities in the stadium, where the Packers play their games here. The commission also authorized the erection of 2,000 bleacher suits behind the north end zone for the 1960 season.

PACKERS TO DRILL NEAR MILWAUKEE

JULY 12 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers will shift their training headquarters to the Milwaukee area for two weeks prior to the NFL opener against the Chicago Bears in Green Bay September 27. Vince Lombardi, Packer coach and general manager, said Saturday that the team will headquarter at the Oakton Manor resort at Pewaukee Lake and work out daily at St. John's Military Academy in Delafield. The squad will arrive at the new training site Sunday afternoon September 13 and return to Green Bay Friday September 25. The club goes to Minneapolis for an exhibition game with Pittsburgh September 20. Lombardi said the temporary training site would enable him to keep the squad intact until the opening game. He explained that St. Norbert College in West De Pere, the team's usual training site, will be in session and the Packers will not be able to use the school's facilities. The Packers will open the Milwaukee end of the schedule with the Shrine Charity exhibition against the Bears Saturday night August 15 and follow with NFL games October 18 against the Los Angeles Rams and November 15 against the world champion Baltimore Colts.

PACKERS'LL BE RESPLENDENT

JULY 18 (Green Bay) - No matter how they play this fall, the Green Bay Packers may be described in one word: resplendent. Here's the new official uniform Packers will be wearing when they trot onto the field at home games - myrtle green (dark green to most of us) jerseys with white letters and gold and white stripes on the arm; pants of shimmering gold with green and white stripes; sox to match the jerseys, with gold and white stripes and helmets of gold. For games away from home, white sox and jerseys will be substituted for the green. In the past, the Packers have played in dark green and dark blue shirts with light tan pants.

PACKERS TRADE MARV MATUSZAK

JULY 22 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers have traded linebacker Marv Matuszak to the Baltimore Colts for Fred Thurston, a 245 pound guard, general manager Vince Lombardi announced today. Lombardi said that the deal was a straight player swap between the two NFL clubs. Green Bay acquired Matuszak from the San Francisco 49ers late last season.

LOMBARDI OPENS PACKER TRAINING FRIDAY, FULL SQUAD DUE SATURDAY

JULY 23 (Green Bay) - Vince Lombardi, who shook the dust and cobwebs out of the Green Bay Packers administrative setup last winter, carries his campaign to the field today with the opening of training camp. 38 rookies are due to arrive at the NFL club's spartan quarters on the St. Norbert College campus. Three others - halfback Bobby Jackson of Alabama, end Boyd Dowler of Colorado and guard Andy Cvercko of Northwestern - will report to the College All Star camp first. Two others, linebacker Joe Hergert of Florida and fullback Dave Smith of Ripon, will report late from service. The coaching staff was completed this morning with the arrival of Tom Fears, erstwhile Los Angeles Rams star, who comes on special assignment. He will coach the Packers' offensive ends during the first five weeks of the training period. Fears will return to his restaurant chain in Los Angeles when the Packers head west in August for a pair of exhibition appearances in the Pacific northwest. First official item of business on the agenda tonight will be physical examinations, with Dr. H.S. Atkinson, veteran Packer team physician presiding. They will be followed by the first squad meeting of the new season, at which the rookie will be indoctrinated. Reporting with them will be quarterbacks Bart Starr, Babe Parilli, Lamar McHan and Joe Francis and center Jim Ringo. Although the veterans are not due until Saturday night, a number of them already have arrived, among them veteran defensive tackles Dave "Hawg" Hanner and Jerry Helluin, who missed the 1958 season because of a fractured arm incurred during the training grind. Other veterans ready and waiting for the '59 gang are Jim Temp, Dan Currie, Tom Bettis, Bob Skoronski, and Gary Knafelc, all Green Bay residents, and Jerry Kramer, sophomore guard from Idaho. The rookies will be put through their paces for the first time at 10 a.m. Friday at the practice field adjacent to City Stadium. They will work again at 3 p.m. and another double drill is scheduled for Saturday. Sunday has been set aside for "Picture Day", so there will be no practice, but two-a-day drills will start in earnest Monday for the entire 59-man squad. The first "break" in the training routine will come August 8 when the Packers stage their annual intra-squad game at City Stadium.

PACKERS TO AID BI-STATES LOOP

JULY 24 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers are ready to loan a few players to the Bi-States League teams in matching a move the Chicago Bears announced a week or so ago. Jack Vainisi, Packers' business manager, in a letter to the semi-pro organization, said: "We are most anxious to help teams in the Bi-State League, and already have referred some boys to the Manitowoc Chiefs. I am sure that there may be some boys who fail to make our team that would be interested in playing with one of your teams." Earlier, the Bears disclosed they had at least three players they would assign to the Racine Raiders this season. The Chicago team indicated it would farm out more athletes to some of the other teams. Bi-States members, besides Racine and Manitowoc, include the Sheboygan Redwings, Elmhurt, Aurora and the Chicago Gaels.

GREEN BAY GETS BOBBY FREEMAN FROM CLEVELAND

JULY 24 (Hiram, OH) - The Cleveland Browns today announced defensive halfback Bobby Freeman was traded to the Green Bay Packers in return for a draft choice to be announced later. Freeman, 27, from Auburn, was the Browns' fourth draft choice in 1955 following a spectacular career in which he set a record of 108 points and nine touchdowns in one season. Cleveland drafted Freeman at quarterback and then fought a legal battle with the Canadian League for his services.

threw 42 times against the Chicago Bears and completed 17. Starr's 26 completions in a single game snapped a mark set by Bobby Thomason against the Detroit Lions in 1951. Thomason completed 24 of 33 passes.

ROOKIES OPEN PACKER DRILLS

JULY 25 (Green Bay) - Coach Vince Lombardi wore a grin Friday after the Green Bay Packers opened drills for their 41st NFL season. Lombardi was delighted by the hustle of the 38 rookies and 7 veterans on hand for the coach's first day of field work with the team he took over last fall. Remaining veterans were slated to arrive today. Among the NFL veterans on hand was offensive guard Fred Thurston, obtained from the Baltimore Colts in a trade. The 6-1, 245-pound Thurston said he was happy to be with the Packers because he now makes his home near Green Bay. The work of rookie halfbacks George Dixon of the University of Bridgeport and Tim Brown of Ball State Teachers brought a special salute from Lombardi. They showed a lot of speed as did end candidates Ken Higgenbotham of Trinity College and Buddy Mayfield of South Carolina.

PACKERS, LIONS TRADE 1ST STRING TACKLES

JULY 27 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers announced a trade of first string right tackles with the Detroit Lions today. After two years at Green Bay, Oliver Spencer will return to Detroit, where he has an insurance business. In return, the Bays will get Ken Russell, 23-year old former Bowling Green star who is starting his third NFL season. No cash was involved in the swap. The Packers asked waivers on ends Charles Anderson of Drake; Chuck Brockmeyer of Miami of Ohio, and Harry Hauffe of South Dakota; backs Leroy Hardee of Florida A&M, and Willie Jones of Indiana, and tackles Ken Kerr of Arizona State and Dick Nearents of East Washington State.

PACKERS TRADE FERGUSON TO STEELERS

JULY 28 (Green Bay) - Fullback Howie Ferguson has been traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers for an undisclosed future NFL choice, the Green Bay Packers announced today. The 28-year old veteran, signed by the Bays as a free agent in 1953, was averaging 4.5 yards per carry - equal to his best year - when he was put on the injured reserve list midway in last season with an injured shoulder. In 1955 he was second in rushing only to Baltimore's Alan Ameche, gaining 859 yards in 92 carries.

PASSING EMPHASIZED AS BAYS TAKE THEIR FIRST SCRIMMAGE

JULY 29 (Green Bay) - Coach Vince Lombardi is wasting no time polishing the Packers' aerial game. The emphasis was on pass patterns in the 2-a-day drills Monday and the first scrimmage Tuesday afternoon involved the veterans and rookies featured pass-protection work. The four defensive linemen were given blocking aprons by the action was swift and upsetting as the defensive linemen seemed to give the quarterbacks some working room. At least plenty of passes were completed. Blocking upfront with authority at times were Willie Taylor, Bob Skoronski, Forrest Gregg, Fred Thurston, Jerry Kramer, Dick Grogg and Steve Meilinger. The rough action offered the entire staff - Lombardi and aides Phil Bengtson, Bill Austin, Norb Hecker, Red Cochran and Tom Fears - a good opportunity to check their prospects under more advanced fire. To keep the action fresh, alternate groups were used throughout. One highlight was the speed of Bill Butler, the halfback who is being tried on defense. The Berlin, Wis., ace who says he hasn't been timed since he ran a 10.4 century as a freshman in high school, lost Max McGee once in a pass rundown and then caught up with him. And Maxie is no slow poke! The action was filmed and the picture will help the coaches determine the ability of the rookies. This scrimmage was preceded by a controlled head-knocking session with an offensive lineman opposing a defensive lineman or linebacker while a quarterback handed the ball off to a back. The back would proceed at full speed through the hole provided by the one offensive lineman. If this lineman missed, the back had to face the defenser head on. There were some ringing smashups and the players applauded at times for a good hit. The applause meter hit a high spot once when Lew Carpenter got off a good crack. There was one casualty - Tom Braatz, the Marquette end who received a cut over his eye....The Packer Alumni Association could have had a meeting on the practice field sidelines yesterday. The formers on hand were Ted Fritsch, who stoked a few memories with Fears, John Martinkovic, Deral Teteak, Fred Cone and Alex Wizbicki. Cone is up from Mobile, Alabama visiting his wife's folks while Wizbicki is traveling this area for a liquor concern out of Milwaukee. Teteak, now a Wisconsin coaching aide, is visiting with Fred Marsh, also a Badger coach...Late arrival Hank Gremminger took his first workout Tuesday morning. Ken Russel, the tackle obtained from the Lions for Ollie Spencer, was due in today. He was driving from Detroit.

LOMBARDI PUTS WEBB, 3 OTHERS ON WAIVERS

JULY 30 (Green Bay) - Head Coach Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers sent his 56-man squad through another limited contact session Wednesday, with the comments that "it's all new to all of them." "Usually the veterans carry out the plays and show the new men how it's done, but the vets are in the same boat with the rookies," Lombardi said. "It's going to take time, that's all." Lombardi put four men on waivers. They were Bob Webb, passing sensation from St. Ambrose College; guard Larry Hall of Missouri Valley; halfback Tom Newell of Drake and tackle Bob Eiting who had no college experience. "Webb just wasn't good enough," Lombardi said. "He didn't have enough speed." Fred Thurston and Ken Russell, offensive tackles, and defensive halfback Bob Freeman - all obtained in recent trades - have reported and are in there fighting for first-string assignments, Lombardi said. There have been no injuries on the Packer roster of 56, which is four under the maximum for training, and 21 players must still be cut before the season begins.

BILL FORESTER, RINGO AGAIN LEAD PACKERS

JULY 31 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers plan to use the same men who guided their professional football team the past three years as field captains in the 1959 campaign. Coach Vince Lombardi announced Wednesday that Jim Ringo, veteran center from Syracuse, and Bill Forester, a linebacker from SMU will be team captains again. Ringo will be offensive captain and Forester will act on defense. Both are seven year veterans in the NFL and have held their posts under three coaches. The Packer coach also named a six-man committee that will confer with him on player problems. Named to the committee are Ringo and Forester, Dave Hanner, a defensive tackle; Bart Starr, quarterback; Forrest Gregg, a guard and Emlen Tunnell, a defensive back. Lombardi expressed satisfaction with the condition of his men after sending them through two spirited workouts Wednesday. He was not satisfied, however, with the passing, contending it was not sharp enough.

PACKERS GET TACKLE

JULY 31 (Green Bay) - The Packers Friday acquired tackle Tom Saidock, a two-year veteran with the Eagles, for an undisclosed draft choice. At the same time, the club picked up Roger Wypcznski, who was put on waivers by the Redskins. The rookie tackle, who played at St. Norbert, is 260 and 6-5. The 29-year old Saidock packs 260 pounds on a 6-4 frame and will strengthen the Packers' defensive tackle corps, manned by veterans Dave Hanner and Jerry Helluin. Saidock played his college ball at Michigan State. He was one of the Eagles' top draft choices in 1957. Meanwhile, Packer Coach Vince Lombardi reported that tackle Fred Thurston, acquired from the Colts last week for linebacker Marv Matuszak, suffered a strained ligament in his leg and will be temporarily sidelines. Lombardi has scheduled a full scale scrimmage for Saturday.

2 PACKERS HOSPITALIZED AFTER DRILL

AUGUST 2 (Green Bay) - Coach-General Manager Vince Lombardi cracked the whip on his 57-man Packer squad Saturday and after a bruising 40-minute scrimmage, two players were hospitalized. None of the injuries were termed "serious by Lombardi. Veteran fullback Jim Taylor needed stitches to close a wound above his eye. Rookie linebacker Dick Teteak was to be an overnight patient pending observation of a slight concussion. Halfback Paul Hornung sustained a leg injury, but was treated in the dressing room. Lombardi was "very pleased" with the roughhouse affair. The offense, working mostly on running plays, scored four times from 50 yards out. However, the new Packer taskmaster called his offense in a huddle when they failed to score from the five. "This is a game of desire and determination," Lombardi told them. "There is no reason to stall here." Lombardi then placed the ball on the five three times - and all three times the offense moved in to score. "This was the most satisfying thing about the scrimmage," Lombardi later said. He praised the work of rookie halfback George Dixon of Bridgeport, and veterans Don McIlhenny and Taylor. After the session was over, Lombardi placed defensive halfback Jim Morse, Notre Dame, on waivers. Morse had been hampered with leg trouble. Jesse Whittenton, veteran defensive halfback who had not come to terms this year, reported in camp. Tackle Tom Saidock, acquired from the Eagles Friday, is expected Sunday. Veteran tackle Dave Hanner was released from the hospital, where he was treated for a stomach disorder. Rookie tackle Gary Raid also was a hospital case, resting after suffering concussion Friday.

FERGUSON RETURNED - KEN RUSSELL QUITS TRAINING CAMP

AUGUST 3 (California, PA) - The Steelers announced Monday that they were returning Howie Ferguson to the Packers. Ferguson was acquired from the Packers two weeks ago on a conditional basis in exchange for a future draft choice. A Steeler spokesman said Ferguson was returned because the club didn't want to take a chance with his chronic shoulder ailment. Ken Russell, the veteran tackle obtained from the Lions in exchange for Ollie Spencer, has left camp. He had been complaining about the work load. Lombardi said "we may get another player for Spencer or a draft choice."

PACKERS LET 2 ROOKIES GO

AUGUST 4 (Green Bay) - The Packers cut two more rookies from their training camp roster Monday, lost another temporarily to the All-Star camp and picked up a draft choice who decided to play. Placed on waivers were Jerry Sprangers, a Green Bay High School tackle, and Mel Schmidt, Idaho fullback. Tackle Gary Raid from Williamette went to the All-Star game. Dick Emmerich, the Bays' 30th draft choice from Westchester State, reported in after deciding not to play in Canada.

PACKERS PICK SQUAD 11S

AUGUST 5 (Green Bay) - Coach Vince Lombardi Wednesday announced lineups for the Packers' intra-squad game Saturday at Green Bay, with the team generally divided between a veteran offense and a rookie defense against a veteran defense and rookie offense. Kickoff is 4 p.m. In the rookie backfield on offense will be second draft choice Alex Hawkins of South Carolina, George Dixon of Bridgeport and Dave Smith of Ripon against the likes of veterans Paul Hornung, Lew Carpenter and Jim Taylor. On defense such veterans as Em Tunnell, Dan Currie and Bill Quinlan will compete in stopping the offense against rookies Dick Teteak of Wisconsin, Bob Laraba of Texas Western and Bill Butler of Chattanooga.

NO PATCH-UP JOB FOR LOMBARDI

AUGUST 9 (Green Bay) - To try and haul the Packers back into contention, Vince Lombardi may keep 17 new men this season. If this is the case, it will clearly show what he thinks of the personnel he inherited. Here's a rebuilding job which will top all rebuilding jobs. The headaches are many but the progress can be rewarding. "I'm not here to patch up a team for one season," Lombardi said Sunday after viewing films of Saturday's scrimmage. "No, sit. I've got to pick the best players available, not for this season, but for the years to come." Looking at a roster, Lombardi checked off several promising rookies: guard Dick Emerich, halfback Jim Brown, tackle Ed Buckingham, defensive halfback Bill Butler, halfback George Dixon, halfback Alex Hawkins, defensive halfback Bob Laraba, end Buddy Mayfield, fullback Dave Smith and end A.D. Williams. That makes 10 rookies and what team ever kept 10 rookies? Lombardi then listed seven new veterans who may make the squad. They include tackle Tom Saidock, linebacker Tom Braatz, defensive back Bob Freeman, quarterback Lamar McHan, defensive end Bill Quinlan, guard Fred Thurston and safetyman Em Tunnell. "One thing for sure," Lombardi emphasized, "everyone has a chance to make this team. And by the desire shown everyone wants to." After two weeks in camp, Lombardi said he has accomplished what he intended to do. "I believe our players now have a knowledge of what we want them to do," he said. "I'm pleased with the way the offensive line gets off on the ball. Our passing game is improved - but I'm worried about the defense." Bart Starr and McHan showed the most promise in the squad test and either may start against the Bears in Milwaukee Saturday night. Starr is a heady play caller and an accurate passer. Lombardi now hopes to restore his confidence. McHan is a proven veteran who throws and runs well. Lombardi said he might work them in combinations if neither is able to move the team consistently. He had hoped to groom a No. 1 passer, but that is beginning to fade. Babe Parill didn't look too sharp in the squad game, although it is not fair to base sole judgment on one appearance. He is the best ball handler but still has a tendency to go for the home runs. "That's what we have preseason game for," Lombardi said. "To judge our personnel and get into shape - and boy, does that defense need to get in shape!" Regarding the Bear game, Lombardi said, "It's not the Bears themselves we

fear. No, indeed, it's those gosh many defenses they throw at us. We're not ready for that...yet." Lombardi is pleased with the running of Don McIlhenny, Lew Carpenter, Jim Taylor, Al Carmichael and rookie Brown. But he is still looking for a speedy back, one who is big enough to take the brunt of those slam-bang defenders. "We lack pose and we lack depth," Lombardi said. "We could get lucky if we don't have any injuries."

GAME ACTION - THAT'S TIM BROWN'S DISH

AUGUST 10 (Green Bay) - Tim Brown, the rookie Packer halfback from Ball State (Ind.), can find more ways to look bad in practice - but once he's in a game, it's an entirely different story. The young Negro was tabbed as a sure cut until after last Saturday's squad game. But with fans in the stands, a band blarin' and the coaches on the sidelines, Brown romped for 75 yards in four carries, including a 29-yard touchdown run. "It's a funny thing," Brown hesitantly admitted Monday. "I sure can relax in a game. But in practice I seem to be messing everything up - and then they start yelling at me. Maybe I shouldn't have said that," Brown said, pausing. "I don't want to say anything that would hurt my chance of sticking." Brown is the fastest man in the camp. And he can be consoled by the fact that anytime any rookie gets as much offense as Vince Lombardi is throwing at this Packer team, anyone is bound to be confused. "The plays," Brown pointed out, "you just can't compare 'em to college. Well, certainly not with the stuff we learned at Ball State. I surely was disappointed after two weeks up here. Then came this game. I knew it was a do or die game for a lot of us - especially me. I didn't get a chance to carry the ball once in the first half and I started wondering if this was going to be it. Then in the fourth quarter I got a chance. With the blocking up front, there was nothing to it." Brown was the Packers' 27th draft choice. His only rise to fame is his speed and is being named to someone's "Little All-American." He spent his youth in an orphanage. He entered Ball State on a basketball scholarship, which paid only his tuition. "I ran the 100 in 9.9," Brown recalls, "and I broke the conference record in the broad jump with 23-3." Brown was clocked at 4.7 in the 40 yard dash by the Packers, the best time by any player in camp. He has a good pair of hands, too. "I brought everything I own with me," Brown said, pointing to two small trunks in the corner of the room. "They feel pretty good back home that I was picked by the Packers. I can't disappoint them." The 5-10, 190 pound rookie has one ace in the hole. He can sign, perhaps well enough to start a career. But the only thing on his mind right now is pleasing the coaching staff in drills - he's confident he can do the job when it counts. See for yourself Saturday night at the Midwest Shrine game in County Stadium.

BAYS DRILL HARD; LOMBARDI CUTS 7

AUGUST 10 (Green Bay) - Coach Vince Lombardi Monday was pleased with his squad's desire as he started preparations for Saturday night's preseason opener against the Bears in Milwaukee. "You've got to start thinking correctly on Monday - not Friday," said the Packer boss. "Now if the Bears will only cooperate and not throw the book at us, we might come out O.K. But I guess you can't depend on that." Lombardi sent his trimmed 48-man squad through a 1 1/2 hour morning workout. Classes were held in the afternoon and night. While the team came out of last Saturday's squad game without any injuries, Lombardi reported the defensive line isn't in very good shape, physically, that is. Fullback Howie Ferguson, who was returned last week by the Steelers when he failed to pass a physical exam, looked impressive as he ran through plays. Ferguson must wait two weeks before he can participate in any contact work. He had a screw removed from his shoulder last Wednesday. Lombardi, who put seven rookies on waivers before the morning drill, said he would probably cut another one before the Bear game and several after that scrap. Of the seven who were cut, tackle Bill Yelverton caught on with Calgary of the Canadian League. The others who got the ax were halfback Ken Wineburg, defensive halfbacks Earl Miller and Des Koch, tackle Roger Wypyszynski, end Jim Yeats and guard Dick Grogg.

LEAN PACKERS READY TO GO

AUGUST 11 (Green Bay) - Vince Lombardi's Packers are ready for combat. They're lean, hard and hungry for a taste of the real McCoy. They'll get it Saturday night against the Bears in Milwaukee. Lombardi is cautiously optimistic. He feels this team is gaining confidence in itself. He also realizes a rout by the Bears at this stage of the season could psychologically kick the Packers for a loop. Progress has been slow but steady at St. Norbert. Lombardi's system is new to everyone - his veterans, rookies and assistant coaches. Yet, everyone is determined to master it. Lombardi feels he has the club where he wants it. This doesn't mean he has sharpened it to a contender's edge. It simply means that he has complete control of the situation. And how important this is at Green Bay! Lombardi, in the true sense, is a pro coach, not a slave driver. The players respect him. They answer him, "yes, sir" or "no, sir." He can be a bear on the field. Take Tuesday's morning workout. "I don't know what you've done in the past," Lombardi barked to his offense, "but we're going to do everything quickly here - you can't stay in a huddle that long. Snap out of it. You've got the plays - you don't have to think up anything new in the huddle...don't stop out their guards, that's half our trouble." Lombardi appreciates a good play and quickly compliments one. "That's the way to do it," he said patting a veteran on the back. "There's nothing to being an option back." This team is running all the time. There's no standing around. And when a play is involved, it's running through it at full speed. The talent might be thin in Lombardi's camp, but the talent is well conditioned. Lombardi believe a team in good condition will think better - there won't be any letdowns, say, in the third quarter. Lombardi is the boss! But every assistant is instructing on every play. When the offense is running through a play, Bill Austin will grab a guard when the play has been completed and tell him what he's done wrong. Red Cochran will stop a quarterback in his tracks, correcting his handoff. Tom Fears runs after an end and follows him back to the huddle with words of advice. On defense, Phil Bengtson watches over his line like a hawk and Norb Hecker shouts instructions to the backs. Lombardi keeps moving from unit to unit. He'll even take over as quarterback to emphasize a play. The coaching is tops. It was learned that five of the seven players Lombardi cut Monday came into his office and told him he was the best coach they've ever had. Another bawled like a baby, begging Lombardi to give him another chance, that he would pay his own expenses in camp if he could stay. Veteran tackle Dave Hanner, who has played under three coaches during his seven years at Green Bay, says the big difference this year is the squad's confidence in Lombardi. "During the decline through the years here fewer and fewer players wanted to put out," Hanner said. "This coach has convinced everyone he's the boss and demands nothing but the best. And we're going to give him nothing but the best."

HALAS, BEWARE! DON'T CROWD LOMBARDI

AUGUST 13 (Green Bay) - Vince Lombardi and George Halas will be on the same side of the field Saturday night at the Midwest Shrine game at the Stadium. And isn't that a fine how do you do. Both are dynamic personalities, both are poor losers and both are liable to step on each other's toes. Because of the many protests last season bu lower box seat customers whose football view was obstructed by the bruisers from Green Bay, the Packers agreed to move to the east side of the field. The Bears were politely asked to cooperate. So Saturday night it will be one big happy family in full view of everyone. Halas is addicted to running the sidelines. He has done it since 1921. They say you don't teach an old dog new tricks. Lombardi, a well built, chesty Italian, Wednesday said, "Halas just better keep out of my way, period." But it takes two to tango, Vince...STARTING LINEUPS: Here is the Bears' starting lineup: quarterback Ed Brown, left halfback Johnny Morris, right halfback Jim Dooley, fullback Rick Casares, end Harlon Hill and Willard Dewveall, tackles Herman Lee and Dick Klein, guards Abe Gibron and Stan Jones and center John Mellekas. The Packers will counter with quarterback Bart Starr, left halfback Paul Hornung, right halfback Don McIlhenny, fullback Jim Taylor, ends Max McGee and Gary Knafelc, tackles Bob Skoronski and Forrest Gregg, guards Jerry Kramer and Fred Thurston and center Jim Ringo.

DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT - LOMBARDI

AUGUST 13 (Green Bay) - "I just hope we don't smell the place out Saturday night." That was Coach Vince Lombardi's candid opinion Thursday as he concluded drills for Saturday night's preseason opener against the Bears in Milwaukee. "I really don't know what to expect," Lombardi said. "We'll just have to wait and see." The Packers will leave by bus Friday morning and hold a light workout at the Wauwautosa High School field at 3 p.m. Lombardi said two players may not see action. Halfback Joe Francis is hospitalized with the flu and defensive halfback Hank Gremminger has sore heels. Center Jim Ringo, also a flu patient, is ready to go. Lombardi said veteran Bart Starr and Lamar McHan, the fugitive from the Cardinals, will split the quarterbacking duties, Starr starting.

PACKERS, BEARS MAY DRAW 36,000

AUGUST 15 (Milwaukee) - The largest crowd ever to see a Packer-Bear scrap in the state of Wisconsin is expected Saturday night for the 10th annual Midwest Shrine game at the Stadium. With a record advance already in the till, game officials are looking for a heavy gate sale Saturday to pump the attendance to near capacity (36,000). The weatherman, who last year didn't cooperate, called for a cool, clear night for football. Shrine games are noted for their colorful ceremonies. The pre-game pageant will begin at 7:30 p.m. with the kickoff at 8:05 p.m. Introduction of Queen Joyce Ann Boser will highlight the halftime show. "Strong legs run that weak ones may walk" has been the theme of the attraction. Proceeds go to the Shrine hospitals for crippled children. Packer fans will be anxious to see what lift has been effected in their team by coach and general manager Vince Lombardi. But no Packer partisan is more curious about the 1959 squad than a certain Chicagoan - George Halas. After three weeks in camp, Lombardi will field a green but well conditioned team. He has thrown the book at them. Their progress has been slow but steady. Halas, who last year claimed a half-share of second place (8-4) in the Western Conference, will counter with a veteran team which is expected to be a serious contender this season. Lombardi said he doesn't know what to expect. The new Packer taskmaster, who is determined to develop a winning frame of mind at Green Bay, will start a veteran backfield. Bart Starr, who has taken the early lead in the quarterback derby, will direct a backfield composed of Paul Hornung, Don McIlhenny and Jim Taylor. In his modified split T system, Lombardi places much more emphasis on the running game than the Packers have done in the past. And making it go are three guards - Jerry Kramer, Fred Thurston (acquired from the Colts) and Dick Emerich, a fugitive from Canada. In Willie Galimore and Rick Casares, the Bears boast one of the better outside-inside running combinations in the game. Ed Brown will trigger the attack. His personal targets will be Harlon Hill, fully recovered from a torn Achilles tendon which put him out of commission for the last third of the '58 season, and Jim Dooley, who was lost for the entire season with a fractured ankle. Defensively, Doug Atkins (6-8, 255-pound crashing end), features a tough experienced charge. The Packers need not be reminded. Lombardi want to win, so does Halas. It should be a real lalapalooza.

NEARLY 10,000 WET, CHILLED FANS GREET PACKERS ON ARRIVAL HOME

DECEMBER 15 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers, returning home from the last game in their most successful season since 1944, were greeted Monday night by nearly 10,000 wet, chilled but enthusiastic fans who had waited 65 minutes in the rain and sleet. The Packer plane was delayed in arrival, but the St. Norbert College band from nearby West De Pere entertained the crowd with an impromptu concert until the team arrived from San Francisco, where the Packers defeated the 49ers Sunday. Coach and General Manager Vince Lombardi hailed the work of his staff and the players in a brief speech at the airport. "All the accolades do not belong to me. They belong to the fine staff that I had to work with," he said. He called the Packers' coaching staff the "finest in the NFL." Lombardi also credited the players with the major role in the team's success this season. "This team had great determination. They took every defeat the hard way but they never quit. They came back when things were the toughest." In a short, 16-word speech, Mayor Roman Dennison of Green Bay said, "They (the Packers) certainly made our job easy for us. They sold Green Bay all over the country." The "Minute Men" of the Green Bay Association of Commerce presented each player with a green and gold Packer blanket purchased with funds donated by 50 firms and individuals. The Packers finished in a tie for third in the NFL's Western Division with a 7-5 record. Last year Green Bay had a 1-10-1 mark, the worst in 40 years of Packer football. This year Green Bay had its first winning season since 1947 and its best year since the club won the NFL title in 1944.

STARR, GREGG, DOWLER LAUDED BY LOMBARDI

DECEMBER 16 (Green Bay) - His team's performances against the Chicago Bears provided Coach Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers with the biggest thrill - and disappointment - of his first season as coach of the Wisconsin entry in the NFL. Lombardi said Tuesday beating the Bears in Green Bay's home opener was the thriller for him because "I didn't know what to expect." Losing the second game to the Bears in Chicago was discouraging because the Packers could have won it if only they had been able to score when twice on the Bears' one-yard line. Lombardi, of course, was happy with the 7-5 winning record his team compiled, but he acknowledged "we've still got a long way to go. We're not the Baltimore Colts, yet." In handing out laurels, Lombardi listed tackle Forrest Gregg the most improved Packers, and 6-5 end Boyd Dowler of Colorado the outstanding rookie. Lombardi said he didn't want to single out a veteran, but if he had to it would be Bart Starr who took over at mid-season when Lamar McHan got hurt and quarterbacked the squad to four victories.

HORNUNG LEADS ALL SCORERS

DECEMBER 16 (Philadelphia) - Green Bay Packers' players, led by Paul Hornung as the NFL's top scorer, showed up well in the final NFL individual statistics released today. Halfback Hornung, the former Notre Dame Golden Boy, crashed for seven touchdowns and kicked 31 extra points and seven field goals to lead the league with a total of 94 points. He won the scoring crown in the final game of the season, against the 49ers in San Francisco last Sunday, when he scored 22 points. Toe specialist Pat Summerall of the New York Giants was second to Hornung, just four points back, with 30 extra points and 20 field goals. Among the other Packers Lew Carpenter was second in punt returns with an 11.5 average, quarterbacks Lamar McHan and Bart Starr were the eighth and ninth leading passers with 7.45 and 7.25 yards gained averages and Max McGee was the league's seventh most effective punter with a 42.7 average. Hornung also garnered eighth-place ground gaining honors with an average of 4.5 yards in 152 carries for a total of 681 yards. Starr, who led the Packers to their four final victories, actually was a more effective passer than McHan in every category except touchdowns and average yards gained. Starr completed 70 of 134 passes for a total of 972 yards and six touchdowns. McHan passes were good for eight touchdowns, but his completion percentage was 44.4, compared with Starr's 52.2 McHan completed 48 of 108 passes for 805 total yards. McHan had nine passes intercepted, Starr seven.

FOUR PACKERS ON ALL-STARS

DECEMBER 16 (Los Angeles) - Four Green Bay Packers today were named to the NFL Western Division All-Star team which will meet the Eastern All-Stars January 17 in the Pro Bowl. Packers names to the offensive unit are center Jim Ringo, halfback Paul Hornung and tackle Forrest Gregg. Representing the Packer defense is linebacker Bill Forester.

PACKERS POST 3RD BEST MARK IN DEFENSE

DECEMBER 18 (Appleton Post-Crescent) - The Packers scored 74 points in their historic sweep of the 2-game West Coast series, averaging 37 points per game. These facts were pointed out to Coach Vince Lombardi on the flight home...to which he answered: "That's fine, but what about the defense!" Vince, in case you haven't guesses, is sold on defense. He's convinced that you can't win in this league without a good defense. "How do you think we won our first three games? Defense!" Lombardi asked and answered. This proves that Vince doesn't operate on a single track. The man has been in offense all his football life as it were - an offensive guard at Fordham, installer of the T attack for the Fordham freshmen in '47 and offense coach of Army and the Giants for 10 yards. What about the defense? The Packers ranked third in the league in yards allowed and that's a musical rose for defense coaches Phil Bengtson and Norb Hecker and the defense player platoon. Green Bay allowed 3,522 yards rushing and passing. The Giants' fine defenders gave up only 2,843 for first and the Steelers were second with 3,342. Green Bay was the No. 2 team in the league on yards allowed by passing - 1,782. Tops was New York with 1,582. Lombardi always said, "they'll run on us", and the Bays finished sixth in yards allowed by rushing. The Bays gave up 1,770 against the Giants' best of 1,261. The Packers allowed 246 points, which is a high average of 20 per game...but only two teams really clubbed the Bays - the Rams in Milwaukee, 45-6, and the Colts in Baltimore, 38-21. Remove those 83 points and the Packers' point-allowed total goes down to 163 - an average of 16.3, which is a championship figure. The Bays twice had 28 points scored against them - the Bears, 28-17, in Chicago and the Colts (28-24) in Milwaukee. And those are the two games the Packers feel they should have won! The Packers started on a terrific defensive track this season, giving the Bears three, the Lions 10 and the 49ers 20 in the home sweep at the start. In the 5-game loss skein, the Bays allowed 45 to the Rams, 38 to the Colts, 20 to the Giants, 28 to the Bears and 28 to the Colts. The 4-game win streak saw the Bays allow the Redskins a zero, the Lions 17, the Rams 20 and the 49ers 14. In the 3-game win streak, the Bays allowed an average of only 11 points. The average allowance in the 4-gamer was slightly over 12. The "AA" in the losing ride was a hold-your-hat 31.8

PACKERS LONG WAY FROM CHAMPS

DECEMBER 18 (Green Bay) - Vince Lombardi succeeded in making the Green Bay Packers the most improved team in professional football this year, but now he admits it's going to be rough improving on that success. Lombardi put himself right among the frontrunners for the NFL's coach of the year by turning a 1-10-1 record in 1958 into a 7-5 record and a third place tie in the Western Division this year. "Next year is going to be tougher. We sneaked up on a few of them in the beginning of the season, and they'll be ready for us next year," Lombardi said. It was Lombardi's first year as a head coach, and while he's not afraid of a "sophomore jinx" in 1960, the demanding Packer boss is certain that another big jump ahead next season that would take Green Bay to a division title is not in the cards. "A title?" cried Lombardi, taken aback with the mere suggestion of it. "We're a long way from a title. We still have to improve tremendously to be in that class." One of the things Lombardi said when Green Bay fans whooped it up for the best Packers team since 1944 was, "We're not the Baltimore Colts yet." Asked what the Packers need to become the Colts, Lombardi laughed and said, "Unitas, Perry, Ameche and Lipscomb." The biggest reason for the Packers' improvement was the team's much stronger defense, molded by Lombardi with several key trades. But Lombardi said he did not expect to be able to trade as freely next year. For one thing, the Packers will not be as willing to give up players from this year's team, so "we'll be more difficult to trade with," Lombardi said. "Also there will be very few people who will want to trade with us" for fear of making the Packers stronger, he added. "We're going to have to polish the men we now have and hope our rookies can give us more spark," Lombardi stated. The Packers have signed their first draft choice, halfback Tom Moore of Vanderbilt, and "we're coming along as good as anybody else" in signing other draftees, Lombardi said. But with the new AFL and the Canadians bidding for football players this year, "everybody is having difficulty signing players," Lombardi said. "The players are waiting to see what they're offered." Lombardi figures to have all of this year's Pack back again in 1960. Paul Hornung, the NFL's leading scorer, finished a three year contract this season, but has already said he's ready to come back. Only one-eyed defenseman Bobby Dillon, who was coaxed out of quitting this year, has said he won't return. But Lombardi said he also expects to see Dillon back. "Ten or 12 players every year say they're going to retire at the end of the season, and show up as usual the next year."

TUNNELL ADDED TO NFL'S WEST TEAM

DECEMBER 19 (Los Angeles) - Defensive back Emlen Tunnell of the Green Bay Packers and defensive lineman Marion Campbell of the Philadelphia Eagles today were named to the West and East squads, respectively, in the All-Star Pro Bowl game here January 17. There were the so-called bonus choices of coaches Red Hickey (San Francisco 49ers) of the West and Buck Shaw (Philadelphia Eagles) of the East and bring each squad to the 33-man limit. Previous choices were made by vote of the 2 NFL coaches.

​AFL PRO CLUB OFFERS POST TO BENGTSON

DECEMBER 20 (Minneapolis) - Owners of the Minneapolis-St. Paul club in the new American Football League conferred in Madison Saturday with Phil Bengtson, their apparent No. 1 choice as head coach. Bengtson, a tackle on the University of Minnesota's national championship team of 1934, joined the Green Bay Packers as defensive coach this year after nine seasons as assistant with the San Francisco 49ers. H.P. Skoglund, part owner of the Twin Cities team, said there would be no announcement on selection of the Minneapolis-St. Paul coach for "at least a week." Bengtson was an assistant at Missouri and Stanford before joining the 49ers. Ten years ago he was a strong candidate for the Minnesota athletic directorship, a job that went to Ike Armstrong. Bengtson was believed to be seriously considering the Minneapolis-St. Paul offer, but there was no indication whether he had accepted. Two teams of the new league have signed their coaches. New York picked off Sammy Baugh, former Hardin-Simmons coach and onetime pro great, and Buffalo signed Buster Ramsey.

PLANS TO KEEP JOB WITH PACKERS

DECEMBER 21 (Minneapolis) - Officials of the Minneapolis-St. Paul club in the new AFL want Phil Bengtson of the Green Bay Packers as head coach but Bengtson said he's happy right where he is. "I'm tickled to death with the situation in Green Bay and I have no intention of leaving now," Bengtson said when asked if he would take the job.

VINCE LOMBARDI NAMED PRO COACH OF THE YEAR

DECEMBER 22 (New York) - Vince Lombardi, in his first year as head coach of the Green Bay Packers, today was voted coach of the year by NFL writers in the annual Associated Press poll. The 45-year old tactician, who once served as Red Blaik's backfield coach at West Point, guided his team to a tie-for-third-place finish in the Western Conference with seven victories against five defeats. While Lombardi doesn't profess to be a miracle man, the Packers' showing this past season cannot be described as anything less than a miracle. He took over a team which had won only one game, lost 10 and tied one in Green Bay's poorest season in its 40 years of professional football. The little man with the build of a blacksmith steered his team to victories in its first three games and was carried off the field on the shoulders of his players after their opening game triumph over the Chicago Bears. In previous years a Packer coach found it hard to get a lift home in a blizzard. Lombardi won in a landslide. He received 29 of the 37 votes with four votes going to Jim Lee Howell of the New York Giants and two each going to Weeb Ewbank of Baltimore and Red Hickey of San Francisco. No other coach got a vote. Ewbank earned the award last year. Lombardi took over as coach and general manager of the Packers last winter after five years as offensive coach with the Giants. He succeeded Ray (Scooter) McLean as head coach and Verne Lewellen as general manager. Lombardi, who first gained attention in football as a guard at Fordham and was one of the "Seven Blocks of Granite" in Fordham's glory days on the gridiron, made a remarkable metamorphosis at Green Bay. He revamped the team almost completely, instilled morale and buoyed up the spirit. He traded for or acquired eight players from rival teams. He installed five rookies, and picked up two veterans who returned from the service. He hung onto only 22 men from last year. He concentrated on defense but he didn't ignore the running game. The Packers from the start showed themselves to be a solid determined team respected by every rival. Paul Hornung found himself under Lombardi. After two season as quarterback and fullback, the former Notre Dame All-American was switched to left halfback and became the key to Green Bay's offense. He led the league in scoring with 94 points. Lombardi also established Jim Taylor, a second year man from LSU, as his regular fullback and the youngster proved a devastating runner after recovering from an injury. Lamar McHan, who spent five largely undistinguised seasons toiling for the Chicago Cardinals, proved a first rate quarterback after Lombardi acquired him for a couple of 1960 draft choices. When McHan went sour, Vinnie switched to Bart Starr and the youngster turned in a fine job as signal caller and passer. Lombardi, father of two children, launched his coaching career at St. Cecilia High School in Englewood, NJ. His teams won six state titles in eight years and at one stage piled up 36 straight victories. He went to Fordham, his alma mater, as freshman coach in 1947. His next step up as backfield coach under Blaik at Army field coach under Blaik at Army helped the 1949 Cadets to an unbeaten season and a 38-0 over arch-rival Navy.

LOMBARDI RATES GAME 'TOSS-UP'

DECEMBER 23 (New York) - Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers, whose team played both Baltimore and New York, says the Giants-Colts championship contest this Sunday rates as a toss-up. Lombardi, named coach of the year in the annual Associated Press poll, said the Colts may have a little edge on the offense but the Giants have a little advantage on defense. "One thing, I don't believe the game this year will be the thriller it was last year when Baltimore beat New York, 23-17, in a sudden death overtime," Lombardi said. "I think the game may break open early. Either team could do it." Lombardi expressed confidence Tuesday that his surprising Packers will be even better next year. "I don't know whether it will show up in the won and lost column," the 46-year old coach said. "We sneaked up on a few of the teams in the beginning - the Packers won their first three games and now they'll be ready for us. We've got to be a better club because we're a young team. Our team was the youngest in the league, averaging 24 years. Our offensive line, with the exception of center Jim RIno, was made up of second year men. The offensive backfield was young. And we solved our most pressing problem. That was teaching a new system. It took time to do this. We won't have to spend as much time on it next year. That's a great advantage. We've got to be better off." Lombardi said that "great determination" made the Packers go this year. "I know it sounds a little corny," he said. "But that's the way it was. We had no great players. Everyone put out."

DICK TETEAK WILL PLAY IN CANADA

DECEMBER 23 (Oshkosh) - Dick Teteak, former University of Wisconsin center, said Tuesday he has signed a 1960 contract with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Teteak worked out with the Green Bay Packers last season but did not make the team.

PACKER GATE UP 13 PERCENT AS NFL ENJOYS RECORD YEAR

DECEMBER 24 (Philadelphia) - The NFL and two of its clubs had record attendance this year, an Associated Press survey shows. For the NFL, it was the eighth consecutive year in which it topped its previous records. The accomplishment was achieved despite unfavorable economic conditions in three league cities. The new record of 3,314,515 fans exceed the 1958 total by 156,617. Nine clubs had increases and three lost ground. The Green Bay Packers, whose great comeback earned Vince Lombardi Coach of the Year laurels, showed an increase of about 13 percent at the game. They attracted 189,998 fans to six home games (two of which were in Milwaukee) compared with 167,626 for 1958. The biggest single boost was by the Eastern Division champion New York Giants. They had a club record of 389,603 fans sitting in their six home games, 97,617 more than in 1958. The next

biggest increase was the 224,518 attendance at Philadelphia Eagles' home games, a club record and an increase of 49,986 fans over 1958 when the Eagles were 2-9-1. This year they were 7-5. The Los Angeles Rams continued as the biggest individual home draw, though experiencing a marked drop in attendance. The Rams had 444,476 fans pass through the Coliseum turnstiles, an average of 74,079. Still the total was 57,608 off their 1958 mark. The Rams won none at home and had their worst overall mark. Acting Commissioner Austin Gunsel said the figures would have been higher except for the effect of the steel strike in Detroit, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Of the three, Pittsburgh still had a 19,234 increase. Cleveland had a 32,401 drop and Detroit, with a poor club, dropped 13,583.

DOWLER CHOSEN PRO FOOTBALL'S ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

DECEMBER 29 (Cheyenne, WY) - The Green Bay Packers aren't going to be the doormat of the NFL any longer, the loop's rookie of the year said today. Boyd Dowler, a 6-5, 220-pound end and flanker back, predicted the resurging Packers would be in the thick of contention for the 1960 pro grid championship. Dowler, who was converted from a collegiate passing star at Colorado to an adept pass-snagging end in the pro circles, expressed surprise when told he'd been named the league's outstanding first-year player. Dowler sat on the bench for most of the first half of the season and it wasn't until mid-season that he broke into the Packers' starting offensive lineup. "It was certainly an honor," Dowler said when advised of his selection. "I'm thrilled and want to give a tribute to the Packers as a whole and particularly Vince Lombardi, the coach." Dowler said Lombardi had done a good job rebuilding the Packers this season, adding, "We'll be in the championship race next year." Asked if he planned to continue pro football after a 6-month hitch in the Army, Dowler replied: "Certainly - if I make the team. The Packers have drafted a lot of good boys for next year."

KRAMER JOINS PISTONS

DECEMBER 31 (Detroit) - Ron Kramer, former All-American football end and basketball star at Michigan, is working out with the Detroit Pistons in hopes of making the NBA team. Kramer is an end with the Green Bay Packers.